PRINCETON,   N.   J.  3* 


If., 


BX  5199   .H4  R6  1831 
Robinson,  Thomas,  1790-1873 
The  last  days  of  Bishop 
Heber 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/lastdaysofbishopOOrobi 


THE 


LAST  DAIS 


or 


BISHOP   HEBE  It, 


BY 

y 

THOMAS  ROBINSON,  A.  M. 

ARCHDEACON  OF  MADRAS,    AND  LATE  DOMESTIC  CHAPLAIN 
TO  HIS  LORDSHIP. 


— ,;  Dear  Friend!  so  pleasant  didst  thou  make  those  days. 
That  in  my  heart — long  as  my  heart  shall  beat^ 
.Minutest  recollections  still  will  live, 
Still  be  the  source  of  joy." 

I 


NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  T.  AND  J.  SVV  ORD^ 
No.  127  Broadway. 

1831. 


NEW- YORK  : 
PRINTED  BY  EDWARD  J.  SWORD 
No.  8  Thames-street. 


THBOlfOQi 

TO  MRS.  HEBEll. 


IIy  dear  Madam, 

I  have  yielded  to  the  earnest  solicitations  of  many  friends,  both  in 
India  and  England,  to  give  publicity  to  the  notices  contained  in  my 
private  journals  of  those  last  days  of  your  beloved  and  lamented  husband, 
in  which  I  consider  it  the  highest  honour  of  my  life  to  have  been  his 
companion  and  friend.  I  did  not  anticipate,  when  I  first  arranged  these 
papers  for  the  press,  that  they  would  exceed  a  few  pages;  but,  while 
my  first  object  was  only  to  assist  and  perpetuate  the  recollections  of  those 
who  knew  and  loved  him  here,  I  was  unwilling  to  omit  any  particular, 
of  which  I  could  speak  from  personal  knowledge,  that  might  present 
this  model  of  a  Christian  Bishop  to  the  admiration  of  those  to  whom,  in 
the  exercise  of  his  high  and  holy  office,  he  was  known  only  from  the 
voice  of  general  fame. 

Permit  me  to  indulge  my  feelings  of  personal  regard  and  esteem  by 
prefixing  your  name  to  the  English  edition,  and  to  express  my  hope 
that  these  pages  may  be  found  to  supply  some  materials  for  a  Memoir 
of  his  Life  and  Character,  which  the  world  will  anxiously  expect  from 
your  pen.  I  cannot  neglect  this  opportunity  of  publicly  expressing  tho 
grateful  sense  I  shall  ever  retain  of  the  distinguished  friendship  and 
kindness  I  experienced  during  my  residence  in  your  family,  and  my 
sincere  hope  that,  whether  in  this  theatre  of  his  latest  labours,  or  in 


our  native  land,  1  may  be  still  honoured  with  a  friendship  inseparably 
associated  in  rny  heart  with  the  name  I  can  never  cease  to  lo%re. 
I  remain,  my  dear  Madam, 

With  sincere  respect  and  esteem, 

Your  obliged  friend  and  servant, 

THOMAS  ROBLNSON.v 

Madras,  July  llth,  1829. 


i 


Three  years  have  now  elapsed  since  you  became 
personally  acquainted  with  tho  subject  of  these  pages,  and 
in  that  brief  interval  through  how  many  scenes  of  personal 
and  private  sorrow  have  we  not  all  passed  !  But  one  sad 
event  of  deep  and  overwhelming  interest,  in  which  we  were 
all  mourners,  is  still  fresh  in  our  recollection,  and  even 
private  and  individual  feeling  seems  to  have  yielded  to  the 
universal  grief  for  our  common  loss,  and  the  sudden  termi- 
nation of  his  labours  amongst  us.  Wherever  he  was  known, 
:n  the  wide  sphere  of  his  influence  and  duty,  he  was  followed 
by  the  admiration  and  love  of  all;  but  I  have  a  melancholy 
satisfaction,  and,  from  my  present  connexion  with  you,  an 
honest  pride  in  recollecting,  that  no  where  was  the  noble 
simplicity  of  his  mind,  and  the  purity  ©f  his  Christian 
virtues,  more  highly  and  justly  appreciated  than  by  your- 
selves. That  spontaneous  and  universal  impression,  which 
the  intercourse  of  a  few  weeks  had  excited,  has  deepened 


vi 

into  a  holier  and  more  permanent  feeling,  by  the  shock  oi 
his  sudden  removal — an  event  in  which  all  have  mourned, 
not  so  much  for  a  public  loss,  as  for  an  individual  bereave- 
ment. All  fee!  the  same  anxiety,  so  natural  io  the  surviving 
admirers  of  departed  excellence,  to  possess  some  record  of 
his  short  and  splendid  career — a  relick  rather  of  his  mind 
than  of  his  person — and  especially  some  notice  of  his  last 
days,  made  illustrious  by  his  more  abundant  labours 
amongst  you,  and  crowded  with  subjects  of  such  immediate 
interest  to  yourselves. 

In  the  following  pages  I  have  not  aimed  at  presenting 
you  with  a  picture  of  his  accomplished  mind,  or  sought  to 
interest  you  in  the  numberless  and  varied  acquirements  of 
his  extensive  genius ;  it  would  indeed  have  been  a  needless 
task,  since  it  has  been  already  faithfully  portrayed  by  an 
abler  and  a  dearer  hand:  but  I  have  been  deeply  solicitous 
to  commend  to  your  imitation  and  regard  this  beloved  Apostle 
of  the  East,  in  his  self-denying  exertions, — his  humble 
labours, — his  devoted  spirit, — his  heavenly  mind.  Still  less 
have  I  attempted  to  draw  his  character;  for  there  were 
some  features  so  fine  and  delicate,  and  of  such  changing 
beauty,  that  it  would  require  his  own  exquisite  pencil  and 
his  own  beautiful  imagination  to  portray  them  accurately- 
The  simple  extracts  from  my  private  journals  addressed  to 
a  part  of  my  family  then  distant,  and  connected  as  they  aro 
with  this  object  of  your  love  and  reverence,  will,  I  trust,  be 


vii 

p.creptable,  as  affording  a  fuller  description  of  his  own 
apostolical  labours,  and  somewhat  of  greater  minuteness  in 
the  record  of  his  religious  feelings  and  reflections.  The 
delineation  of  both  these  by  his  own  pen  was  rendered 
impossible ;  the  first,  by  his  great  natural  modesty  in  what- 
ever concerned  his  own  exertions ;  and  the  last,  by  that 
sensibility  ef  mind  which  shrunk  from  any  thing  like  an 
exhibition  of  spiritual  anatomy,  even  in  private  and  confi- 
dential letters. 

I  feel,  also,  that  I  owe  much  of  the  distinguished  attention 
and  personal  kindness  with  which  you  honoured  me  on  my 
arrival,  to  the  memory  of  him  under  whose  auspices  I  was 
first  introduced  to  your  regard  ;  and,  while  endeavouring  to 
carry  into  effect  the  plans  originating  with  his  pious  and 
benevolent  mind,  I  cannot  forbear  this  public  expression  of 
my  gratitude,  both  for  the  liberal  support  of  government, 
and  for  your  own  personal  encouragement  and  assistance. 
This,  indeed,  has  been  my  chief  inducement  in  acceding 
to  the  wish  expressed  by  many,  of  extending,  beyond  (he 
limits  of  my  own  private  circle,  the  detail  of  those  last 
memorable  scenes  in  which  I  bore  so  deep  and  mournful  a 
share  ;  nor  can  I  better  express  my  sense  of  what  is  my 
duty  towards  you,  than  by  labouring  in  every  way  for  the 
furtherance  of  your  religious  interests. 

It  has  pleased  God,  whose  ways  are  unsearchable,  to 
remove  from  among  you,  him  whom  we  yet  mourn,  and 


viii 

thus  to  deprive  you  of  the  bright  pattern  his  conduct 
afforded.  But,  though  he  is  no  longer  permitted  to  preside 
over  the  ministration  of  your  public  services,  I  would  fain 
introduce  him  to  your  domestic  circles  as  a  silent  monitor, 
where  lie,  being  dead,  may  yet  speak  to  you ;  and,  in  this 
hope,  I  shall  feel  that  the  hours  devoted  to  these  interesting 
recollections  will  not  have  been  spent  in  vain. 

T.  R. 


THBOLOG 


PEIITCE' 


>  be 


JOURNAL, 


&c. 


August  loth,  1325.  Monday,  Bombay  harbour — on 
board  the  Cruizer  Discovery . 

Once  more  I  find  myself  on  the  bosom  of  the  broad  deep. 
This  morning  all  the  heads  of  departments  met  the  Bishop 
at  breakfast,  at  government-house,  in  the  fort,  and  then 
attended  him  to  the  dock,  where  we  embarked  at  ten. 
For  three  hours  (from  the  total  failure  of  wind)  there  was 
great  danger  of  our  running  aground  :  had  we  drawn  three 
feet  more,  we  must  have  struck.  But  the  great  exertions  of 
our  captain  got  us  clear  off,  and  we  are  now  only  just  within 
sight  of  the  light-house. — Farewell  then,  Bombay — pro- 
bably for  ever. 

August  23d,  Lat.  7°  37'.  We  are  in  the  gulf  of  Minar, 
where  you  remember  rolling  about  on  our  return  from 
Calcutta;  the  weather  fine,  and  every  prospect  of  reaching 
Point  de  Galle  on  Thursday.  It  is  not  safe  to  run  into 
Columbo,  so  that  we  must  have  a  double  journey  by  land. 
The  government  there  are  expecting  us,  and  have  probably 
sent  carriages  and  elephants  for  us. 

August  25th,  Point  de  Galle,  Thursday.  At  day-break 
we  found  ourselves  close  to  the  roads;  but  it  was  very  rainy 
and  inclined  to  blow  hard,  and,  without  a  pilot,  it  would 
not  have  been  safe  to  enter  the  inner  harbour.    We  fired 

B 


10 


guns  several  times  for  a  pilot,  and  about  eight  we  had  one 
on  board,  but  the  ship  had  run  so  near  the  flag-staff,  that  it 
was  necessary  to  anchor  before  he  reached  us ;  the  captain 
anchored  therefore  in  the  spot  laid  down  in  the  printed 
directions.  Owing  to  some  neglect  in*  the  editor  of  the 
book,  this  was  just  the  point  of  greatest  danger.  There 
was  a  rock  to  our  head,  and  a  rock  on  each  side.  We  lay 
there  till  three  o'clock  in  great  jeopardy,  when,  after  the 
greatest  efforts  in  warping  the  ship  upon  another  anchor, 
we  got  her  under  way,  and,  thus  escaping  the  rocks,  reached 
the  inner  harbour  in  safety.  At  breakfast-time  the  acting 
archdeacon  (Mr.  Glenie,)  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mayor  (a  Church 
missionary,)  and  two  other  gentlemen,  came  on  board,  and, 
though  the  day  was  most  uncomfortable,  we  had  some  very 
pleasant  talk.  Mr.  Mayor  is  a  brother  of  an  old  college 
friend,  a  very  excellent  and  valuable  man.  Every  body, 
however,  was  too  sick,  and  in  too  much  suspense,  to  enjoy 
each  other's  society  much.  Most  thankful  are  we  to  have 
escaped  the  peril  in  which  we  were,  and  to  be  thus  merci- 
fully preserved  in  the  midst  of  dangers  which  we  can 
Neither  control  nor  foresee.  We  landed  under  a  double 
salute  from  the  fort  and  our  own  ship,  and  were  received 
in  the  house  of  the  collector,  Mr.  Sansoni,  an  Italian  gentle- 
man in  the  Ceylon  service.  The  principal  families  assem- 
bled at  dinner  to  meet  the  Bishop,  and  I  never  saw  greater 
or  more  cordial  hospitality.  We  cannot  move  to-morrow 
(Friday,)  and  therefore  the  Bishop  thinks  of  spending 
Sunday  at  Baddigam  (Mr.  Mayor's  station,  twelve  miles 
off,  a  little  out  of  our  way  to  Columbo,)  and  thence  pro- 
ceeding on  our  journey  on  Monday.  The  visitation  is 
fixed  for  Thursday,  the  1st  of  September.  You  remember 
we  lay  one  day  within  sight  of  Galle.    It  is  a  neat  small 


tl 


port,  very  clean,  and  the  houses  much  resemble  the  Dutch 
houses  at  Cochin.  The  coast  is  most  beautiful,  the  harbour 
small  and  exposed,  and  the  surf,  w  hich  comes  up  close  to 
our  house,  exceedingly  grand.  The  waves  are  at  this 
moment  deafening.  I  am  thus  thrown  upon  a  new  coast  at 
the  extremity  of  India,  among  strangers,  but  surrounded  by 
mercies,  and  in  a  scene  full  of  interest. 

August  26th.  The  archdeacon  came  to  breakfast,  and 
we  had  a  long  and  interesting  consultation  with  the  Bishop 
on  several  points  of  great  importance.  I  say  we,  because 
the  Bishop  kindly  admits  me  into  his  counsels  on  such 
occasions,  and  in  Mr.  Glenie  I  find  one  with  whom  I  can 
think  and  act  with  perfect  union.  He  is  a  sound  Church- 
man, and  with  an  honest  and  well-directed  zeal  in  the  great 
cause  of  Christianity.  It  seems  that  the  king's  government 
give  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta  £300  at  his  visitation,  to  dispose 
of  as  he  pleases  in  any  of  the  numerous  claims  upon  his 
Christian  benevolence.  It  is  therefore  a  point  of  importance 
to  him  how  to  dispose  of  this  to  the  best  advantage,  and  no 
less  so  to  think  of  it  earl?/,  lest  the  right  time  for  its 
application  should  go  by.  The  archdeacon  has  been  a 
very  industrious  superintendent  of  the  government  schools 
among  the  natives,  and  active  in  the  promotion  of  education 
generally.  The  great  want  is  a  set  of  native  teachers, 
properly  qualified  both  in  Cingalese  and  English  ;  and  he 
is  anxious  for  this  end  to  establish  boarding  schools  (what 
we  should  call  grammar  schools,)  to  raise  up  a  regular 
supply  of  such  men,  some  of  whom  might  eventually  be; 
employed  as  missionaries.  The  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  have  written  out  to  him,  to  say  that 
they  are  desirous  of  leaving  the  supply  of  missionaries  to 
the  other  Society  (P.  G.,)  and  that  they  arc  ready  to 


12 


answer  any  demands  he  may  make  on  them  for  the  support 
of  schools.  Schools  do  already  exist  in  great  numbers 
throughout  the  island,  but  without  more  efficient  teachers 
ihey  will  be  comparatively  of  little  use.  Besides,  govern- 
ment will  support  the  present  schools;  and,  the  machinery 
being  in  existence,  it  is  most  desireable  to  use  it,  with  such 
aids  and  appliances  as  will  make  it  efficient.  Here  is, 
therefore,  a  double  want  of  masters  for  inferior  schools,  and 
of  a  place  of  education  for  native  teachers  of  religion,  called 
liere  proponents.  The  archdeacon's  plan  of  a  central 
grammar  school  will  supply  the  first;  and  why  should  not 
Bishop'' s  College,  receiving  into  its  walls  the  most  promising 
youths  from  that  school,  supply  the  other?  I  took  the 
liberty  of  proposing,  therefore,  that  all  die  funds  of  the 
Christian  Knowledge  Society  should  be  applied  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  grammar  school,  and  that  the  Bishop  should 
give  the  whole  of  his  £300  to  the  promotion  of  the  same 
object  within  the  college,  either  in  founding  a  Cingalese 
scholarship,  or  a  Cingalese  readership  (native  of  course), 
for  ever.  Not  that  £300  would  be  sufficient,  but  there 
seems  no  doubt  that  the  Ceylon  government  would  meet  the 
Bishop  half  way,  and,  if  he  give  £300,  they  will  add  £300 
more — so  well  disposed  are  they  to  this  good  work.  The 
;rood  of  this  alone  would  be  great,  with  God's  blessing;  but 
what  a  noble  example  will  this  be  to  quote  to  the  govern- 
ment of  India  !    I  think  this  will  be  done. 

The  archdeacon  tells  us  there  are  eight  or  nine  Ameri- 
can missionaries  in  the  island,  who  are  diligently  employed, 
with  prospects  of  great  usefulness,  and  having  already  a 
church  of  about  one  hundred  converts  from  heathenism, 
many  of  them  giving  every  evidence  of  real  religion.  Hi* 
Majesty's  Government  has  ordered  that  no  further  mission- 


13 


anes  shall  come  from  America,  and  the  missionaries  now 
here  intend,  as  their  present  members  disappear,  to  resign 
their  field  to  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  This  will 
be  a  noble  accession  of  strength  to  our  Church  ;  and  this, 
by-the-bye,  makes  the  proposed  s\:stem  of  education  more 
necessary  for  us.  The  number  of  nominal  Christians  in 
the  island  is  represented  as  very  large,  chiefly  from  the 
wretched  system  pursued  by  the  Dutch.  They  employed 
no  man  in  any  office  who  did  not  profess  Christianity. 
The  consequence  was  such  as  might  be  expected ;  the 
provinces  on  the  coast  are  all  over-run  with  vagabonds, 
who  are  married  and  baptized,  and  beyond  this  know  no- 
thing of  our  religion,  and  at  the  same  time  attend  the 
Boodh  temples.  Under  our  government  many  of  these  arc 
lately  throwing  off"  the  mask  and  declaring  themselves  hea- 
thens :  this  is  a  better  state.  With  regard  to  the  state  of 
the  native  mind,  it  is  a  mistake  to  imagine  that  they  are 
not  less  attached  to  caste  than  the  natives  of  India.  They 
have  fewer  prejudices  from  a  false  theology  and  philoso- 
phy, nor  is  there  any  where  a  more  promising  field  for 
Christian  exertion:  but,  then,  the  measures  taken  now  will 
decide  much  of  the  character  of  those  labours,  and  the 
hope  of  their  permanent  effects. 

Mr.  Stoop,  a  Wcsleyan  missionary,  a  very  pleasing,  in- 
teresting young  man,  called  on  the  Bishop  this  morning. 
I  was  called  off  and  had  time  only  for  a  few  words.  My 
duties  as  chaplain  are  now  beginning,  and  I  have  any  thing 
but  an  idle  life ;  every  thing  is  referred  to  me  for  the 
Bishop's  consideration,  and,  while  this  takes  up  a  good  deal 
of  time,  it  puts  me  in  possession  of  all  points  of  interest, 
such  as  I  most  wish  to  be  informed  of.  This  evening  the 
archdeacon  and  I  walked  up  to  Mrs.  Gibson's  schools. 
B2 


She  is  the  wife  of  a  respectable  merchant  here,  who  has 
founded  a  noble  school  for  sixty  natives,  boys  and  girls, 
where  they  are  taught,  and  boarded,  and  employed.  It 
stands  on  a  hill,  overlooking  the  country  to  a  great  extent, 
and  commanding  the  harbour  and  the  fort.  It  is  a  lovely 
spot,  and  the  establishment  is  very  noble.  The  children 
appear  neat,  cheerful,  and  industrious ;  the  boys  are  taught 
several  trades,  such  as  carpenters,  taylors,  and  shoemakers; 
and  the  girls  are  employed  in  embroidery,  &c.  The  beau- 
ties of  the  place,  both  natural  and  moral,  make  it  a  very 
delightful  scene. 

August  27th.  A  letter  from  Mr.  Mayor  last  night,  de- 
scribing the  bad  state  of  the  roads  to  Baddigam,  has  deter- 
mined the  Bishop  to  relinquish  his  former  plan  ;  to  spend 
Sunday  here,  and  proceed  on  Monday  at  once  to  Columbo  ; 
and  to  visit  Baddigam,  and  consecrate  the  church  there, 
on  his  return  to  this  place.  There  is  a  very  good  Dutch 
church  here,  which  is  used  also  by  the  English,  and  the 
Bishop  will  confirm,  preach,  and  administer  the  Lord's 
supper  there  on  Sunday  morning.  This  morning  we  have 
had  an  interesting  meeting  of  the  Bible  Society  for  this 
district,  at  which  the  Bishop  presided,  and  which  was  very 
numerously  attended  both  by  Europeans  and  native  Chris- 
uans.  The  Bishop  spoke  at  great  length  in  opening  the 
meeting,  telling  them  of  the  number  of  Protestant  churches 
which  he  himself  had  seen,  and  encouraging  them  to  meet 
the  call  for  Christian  exertion  so  largely  made  on  them  in 
this  island.  His  speech  was  impressive  and  good.  At  the 
close  of  the  meeting  the  Bishop  called  to  him  a  Cingalese 
interpreter,  and  through  him  addressed  the  natives  present, 
on  the  nature  and  value  of  the  institution,  on  the  excellence 
of  the  Bible,  and  their  duty  in  receiving  it  and  giving  it  to 


15 


others.  It  has  been  a  very  gratifying,  and,  1  trust,  not  an 
unprofitable  morning. 

Atigust  28lh,  Sunday.  The  congregation  at  church  was 
large,  and  very  much  resembling  (only  larger)  the  one  you 
remember  at  Cochin.  The  Bishop's  sermen  was  on  the 
gospel  of  the  day,  the  good  Samaritan.  He  preached  from 
his  own  seat,  after  confirming  about  forty  persons,  twelve 
of  whom  were  natives.  About  half  of  the  sermon  was  ex- 
tempore, adapted  to  the  occasion  and  very  admirable,  full 
of  life  and  energy.  It  was  an  affectionate  appeal  to  those 
just  confirmed,  especially  with  regard  to  their  attendance 
at  the  sacrament.  His  extempore  speaking  is  equal  to  his 
written  discourses,  and  hardly  to  be  distinguished  from 
them.  I  preached  in  the  evening  to  nearly  an  equal  con- 
gregation. I  leave  this  place  with  real  regret,  especially 
the  family  of  the  Layards  and  our  hospitable  host. 

August  29th.  We  left  Galle  at  four,  and  came  twenty 
miles  to  breakfast ;  and  after  resting  three  hours,  proceeded 
eighteen  more  to  dinner.  Our  style  of  tiavelling  is  quite 
princely.  Our  own  party  consists  of  six  palanquins,  and 
four  gentlemen  accompany  the  Bishop.  We  are  preceded 
by  fifty  Cingalese  javelin-men,  a  flag,  and  a  band  of  native 
music.  The  road  for  many  miles  (indeed  the  whole  way, 
with  very  few  interruptions)  is  hung  on  each  side  with 
wreaths  of  palm.  Every  eight  or  ten  miles  there  are  tra- 
vellers' bungalows,  called  here  rest-houses,  on  a  large  plan, 
and  with  excellent  accommodations  of  every  kind.  We 
found  coffee  prepared  at  one  of  these,  half  way  to  break- 
fast ;  and  they  are  all  adorned,  in  honour  of  the  Bishop, 
with  leaves  and  branches  of  palm  very  tastefully  arranged 
round  the  pillars,  &c,  and  the  roof  adorned  with  flowers 
and  a  very  exquisite  kind  of  moss  peculiar  to  this  island. 


16 


Our  breakfast  was  very  splendid,  and  was  given  by  the 
head  Moodeliar  of  Galle — so  the  chief  native  civil  servants 
are  called  here.  We  dined  and  are  going  to  sleep  at  a 
place  called  Ben-tott,  which  terminates  Mr.  Sansoni's  dis- 
trict ;  and  he  leaves  us  here  and  returns  to  Galle. 

It  would  be  quite  in  vain  to  attempt  any  description  of 
the  beauties  of  the  road.  We  travel  within  one  hundred 
yards  of  the  sea  all  the  way,  sometimes  retreating  from  it 
a  little  farther,  and  then  it  suddenly  breaks  upon  us  again. 
It  is  a  made  road  through  groves  of  palm  of  every  descrip- 
tion ; — but  do  not  figure  to  yourself  any  thing  like  the 
drive  through  the  woods  in  Bombay.  The  cocoa,  the 
palmyra,  and  the  areca  are  so  beautifully  mixed  with  a 
thousand  other  trees,  and  shrubs,  and  creepers  of  every 
description,  that  nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  and  rich- 
ness of  the  foliage.  Here  and  there  the  thick  forest  of 
trees  is  broken  by  a  stretch  of  open  ground  in  cultivation, 
or  by  a  small  fresh-water  lake  only  just  separated  from  the 
sea,  or  a  beautiful  river  flowing  into  it.  Our  rest-house 
to-night  stands  on  the  bank  of  such  a  river,  and  nothing 
can  be  more  sweetly  beautiful.  They  tell  us  that  the  in- 
terior of  the  island  is  still  more  picturesque.  It  may  be, 
from  the  addition  of  noble  hills  to  wood  and  water ;  but  it 
is  difficult,  while  we  are  here,  to  conceive  any  thing  more 
charming.  Every  eight  or  ten  miles  we  meet  with  a  school, 
either  supported  by  government  or  established  by  the 
missionaries,  and  the  school-rooms  are  used  as  preaching- 
houses  by  the  native  proponents.  The  government  schools 
are  a  noble  foundation,  but  almost  useless  for  want  of  a 
regular  system  of  subordinate  inspection.  Something  must 
be  done  to  remedy  this  deficiency. 

Auguit  30th,  Columbo.   The  chief  secretary.  Mr.  Rod- 


17 

aey,  (son  of  the  great  Rodney,)  met  us  at  our  first  stage 
this  morning,  and  entertained  our  party  very  hospitably  at 
breakfast,  in  the  little  fort  of  Caltura — a  pleasant  and  se- 
questered spot,  on  a  gentle  hill,  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  sea,  and  on  the  southern  bank  of  a  noble 
river.  The  fort  is  now  no  longer  a  place  of  defence,  being 
used  only  by  Mr.  Rodney  as  an  occasional  residence,  but 
yet  proudly  asserted  its  former  character  by  receiving  the 
Bishop  with  a  salute  from  its  walls.  His  lordship  was 
delighted  with  the  repose  and  beauty  of  the  scene ;  and 
after  breakfast,  having  crossed  the  river  in  boats,  Mr. 
Rodney  drove  us  in  his  carriage  ten  miles,  to  the  village 
where  the  governor's  carriage  and  four  were  waiting  for  us. 
The  road  was  adorned,  as  before,  with  wreaths  of  palm, 
and  every  here  and  there  triumphal  arches  of  the  same 
light  and  fairy  structure  were  thrown  up  by  the  natives 
with  great  taste.  Sir  Edward  Barnes's  English  horses 
(magnificent  creatures)  brought  us  into  Columbo,  wher« 
we  drove  at  once  to  the  archdeaconry,  which  had  been 
prepared  for  the  Bishop's  reception  ;  an  excellent  house 
on  the  border  of  a  beautiful  lake,  and  commanding  a  fine 
view  of  the  sea  beyond.  In  the  evening  we  went  to  a  small 
party  of  heads  of  departments  at  the  governor's,  whose 
residence  is  called  the  King's  House. 

August  31st.  The  whole  morning  till  three  o'clock  was 
occupied  with  receiving  visiters  and  making  arrangements 
for  the  visitation.  The  clergy  paid  their  respects  to  his 
lordship,  and  among  the  rest  Christian  David,  a  native  o) 
Tanjore,  who  received  orders  from  the  Bishop  in  Calcutta, 
He  is  about  fifty  years  old,  shrewd,  clever,  and  in  his 
native  language  (Tamil,)  in  which  he  preaches  constantly, 
he  is  said  to  be  powerful  and  eloquent.    The  Bishop  says 


IS 


his  English  sermons  are  very  good,  and  that  his  examina- 
tion for  orders  was  highly  honourable  to  him.  I  have  had 
some  very  interesting  talk  with  him  about  his  venerable 
master,  the  apostolic  Swartz,  who  was  his  father's  god- 
father, and  on  whom  Christian  David  waited  when  a  boy. 
He  has  many  anecdotes  of  his  journeys  with  him  through 
the  Tanjore  country,  when  it  was  over-run  by  Hydcr's 
troops,  but  when  the  general  reverence  for  the  character 
of  the  good  Father  (as  he  was  emphatically  called)  enabled 
him  to  pursue  his  peaceful  labours  even  in  the  midst  of  war. 
I  will  mention  one  of  these,  as  characteristic  of  the  simple 
manners  and  habitual  piety  of  this  great  model  for  all  Chris- 
tian missionaries.  They  had  been  travelling  all  day  on  horse- 
back, and,  arriving  at  a  small  village  at  sunset,  the  good  man 
sat  down  under  a  tree  and  conversed  with  the  natives  who 
came  round  him,  while  his  horsekeeper  was  cooking  their 
evening  meal.  When  the  rice  and  curry  were  spread  on 
the  plantain  leaf,  Swartz  stood  up  to  ask  a  blessing  on  the 
food  they  were  going  to  share,  and  to  thank  God  for  watch- 
ing over  them  through  the  dangers  of  the  day,  and  provid- 
ing so  richly  for  their  repose  and  comfort.  His  heart  was 
full  of  gratitude,  and  expressed  itself  in  the  natural  elo- 
quence of  prayer  and  praise.  The  poor  boy  for  some  time 
repressed  his  impatience,  but  his  hunger  at  last  overpowered 
his  respect  for  his  master,  and  he  ventured  to  expostulate 
and  to  remind  him  that  the  curry  would  be  cold.  He  de- 
scribes very  touchingly  the  earnestness  and  solemnity  of 
the  reproof  he  received.  "  What  !"  said  he,  "  shall  our 
gracious  God  watch  over  us  through  the  heat  and  burden 
of  the  day,  and  shall  we  devour  the  food  He  provides  for 
us  at  night  with  hands  which  we  have  never  raised  in 
prayer,  and  lips  which  have  never  praised  him'" 


19 


Mr.  De  Sarani,  a  native  of  this  island,  who  was  educated 
at  Oxford,  is  another  of  the  regular  clergy  here.  Several 
Church  missionaries,  and  three  of  the  Wesleyan  connexion, 
called  this  morning,  and  all  seemed  delighted  with  their 
reception.  How  indeed  could  they  fail  to  be  impressed  by 
the  amiable  and  delightful  manners  of  the  Bishop,  who, 
while  he  distinguishes  those  of  his  own  communion  by  more 
marked  attention,  extends  the  same  affability  and  kindness 
to  all ! 

This  morning  the  visitation  took  place  at  St.  Peter's 
Church  in  the  fort,  when  the  archdeacon  preached  a  most 
excellent,  plain,  practical  sermon,  and  the  Bishop  delivered 
his  charge  to  the  clergy,  both  chaplains  and  missionaries, 
twelve  in  number.  We  dined  together  in  the  evening,  and 
the  whole  services  of  the  day  have  been  full  of  interest  and 
delight.  I  have  never  seen  so  many  together,  so  united  in 
heart  and  object,  since  I  left  England.  The  good  Bishop 
told  us  some  most  interesting  missionary  anecdotes  of  his 
Hindoostan  journey,  and  the  party  left  us  after  evening 
prayers. 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  you  with  what  feelings  of  affection 
and  obedience  he  is  regarded  by  all :  Mr.  Lambrick,  the 
eldest  of  the  Church  missionaries,  and  Mr.  Ward,  said  to 
me  as  they  went  away — "  This  is  the  golden  age  of  the 
Church  restored  :  this  is  indeed  the  spirit  of  a  primitive 
Bishop." 

September  2d.  The  whole  of  this  morning  I  have  spent 
with  Mr.  Moyart,  Mr.  Layard's  brother-in-law,  to  whom 
I  drove  by  appointment,  collecting  very  valuable  information 
concerning  different  stations  in  the  island.  My  object  is  to 
get  all  I  can  of  this  sort,  and  then  digest  it  into  a  kind  of 
ecclesiastical  map  for  the  Bishop.    All  I  have  heard  and 


2u 


seen  induces  me  to  believe  that  both  the  Church  mission  and 
the  American  are  good  and  promising.  Their  missionaries 
are  devoted,  apostolic  men,  with  nothing  secular  in  their 
character  and  system,  unwearied  andunterrified,  and  keeping 
up  over  their  converts  (which  are  not  few)  a  vigilant  super- 
intendence and  the  strictest  discipline.  Would  to  God  our 
missions  were  all  like  these ! 

Before  dinner  I  had  a  pleasant  drive  through  the  Cinna- 
mon Gardens,  as  the  plantations  are  called  where  the  shrub 
is  cultivated  by  government.  The  perfume  from  the  tree 
is  so  slight  that  we  have  a  great  controversy  whether  we 
can  smell  it  at  all.  The  shrub  is  much  like  the  common 
laurel.  The  government  have  a  monopoly  of  it,  but  it 
yields  only  a  trifling  revenue.*  The  island  is  far  from 
rich,  and  the  population  (nobody  knows  why)  is  decreasing. 
The  air  of  Columbo  is  the  finest  I  have  known  in  India, 
though  only  seven  degrees  from  the  line.  My  Persian 
moonshee  amused  us  with  his  amazement  at  the  quantity 
of  cinnamon,  and  the  glee  with  which  he  wrote  to  his 
friends  in  Sheeraz  that  he  had  boiled  a  fowl  wiih  the  wood, 
which  is  there  esteemed  so  precious.  The  Bishop  and  I 
had  a  long  walk  in  the  verandah  after  tea,  and  much  con- 
fidential talk  on  the  state  of  things  here. 

September  3d.  The  Bishop  has  been  with  the  governor 
this  morning,  and  has  laid  before  him  his  wishes  with  regard 
to  schools.  It  is  a  subject  of  great  difficulty,  and  has 
occupied  many  hours  of  consultation  since  we  have  been 
here.  The  governor  is  ready  to  do  whatever  his  lordship 
suggests.  He  agrees  to  place  whatever  sum  is  now  spent 
annually  on  this  object,  and  something  more,  at  the  disposal 


*  See  Bcrtolacci"s  View  of  Geyion,  p.  239—255. 


21 


of  the  archdeacon,  who  is  to  have  the  control  of  the 
system.  To  that  sum  the  Bishop  promises,  in  the  name  of 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  to  add  a 
further  sum  for  the  maintenance  of  good  English  masters 
in  twenty  of  these  schools.  The  whole  number  of  govern- 
ment schools  is  one  hundred.  The  native  proponents 
will  be  placed  under  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  ;  and  two 
will  be  added  to  their  number  of  a  superior  class,  whom 
the  Bishop  will  put  into  deacons'  orders  next  year,  as 
Inspecting  Proponents.  The  governor  enters  into  his 
view  of  founding  a  Cingalese  teachership,  and  recommends 
referring  it  to  his  majesty's  government  to  found  it  entirely 
with  their  own  money.  I  have  not  time  nor  space  to  enter 
into  a  variety  of  details  on  these  points,  but  this  will  be 
sufficient  to  give  you  a  general  idea  of  the  Bishop's  plans. 
There  is  only  one  thing  more  to  mention  before  the  week 
closes,  and  that  a  very  important  one,  the  subject  of 
general  prayer-meetings.  It  appears  that  a  monthly  meet- 
ing of  this  sort  exists  in  the  place,  of  all  denominations, 
and  both  clerical  and  lay.  The  archdeacon  has  been  re- 
quested to  join  it,  but  has  withheld  his  name,  and  has  been 
consulting  the  Bishop  about  it  to-night.  My  feelings  you 
know,  and  they  were  exactly  those  of  his  lordship;  you  will 
find  them  admirably  expressed  in  a  letter  of  Mr.  Scott's. 
The  good,  however,  of  such  meetings  here  is  greater  than 
in  England,  because  they  are  very  useful  to  the  different 
missionaries  for  conference  on  the  subject  of  their  labours. 
The  Bishop  is  anxious  to  propose  to  them  something  that 
may  get  rid  of  the  evils  very  frequently  resulting  from  the 
system,  such  as  a  conference  at  each  other's  houses,  where, 
in  the  absence  of  a  clergyman,  the  master  of  the  house,  as 
the  priest  of  the  family,  may  lead  the  devotions.    For  our 


own  Church  lie  is  disposed  to  establish  monthly  or  quarterly 
meetings  on  my  father's  plan,  which  I  gave  him.  The 
clergy  are  to  dine  here  after  the  confirmation  next  Thursday, 
and  he  then  means  to  propose  it,  and  commence  it  himself 
in  the  chair. 

September  4th,  Sunday.  The  Bishop  preached  this 
morning  to  a  crowded  church,  and  every  sermon  I  hear  from 
him  seems  better  than  the  last.  It  may  be  because  I  know 
him  better  and  love  him  more. 

September  6th.  Every  day  teems  with  interest  in  this 
highly  favoured  island.  At  day-break  this  morning  I  at- 
tended his  lordship  to  Cotta,  six  miles  off,  the  principal 
Church  missionary  station,  where  they  are  intending  to 
establish  a  Christian  institution  for  the  island.  The  resident 
missionary  there  now  is  Mr.  Lambrick,  an  excellent,  active, 
vigorous  man,  of  advanced  age,  formerly  a  tutor  at  Eton, 
and  now  more  honourably  employed.  It  happens  that  one1 
missionary  from  each  of  the  other  stations,  Jaffna,  Bad- 
digam,  and  Candy,  are  now  there  for  their  annual  consul- 
tation on  the  affairs  of  their  mission.  It  is  a  beautiful 
sequestered  spot,  very  much  resembling  Cotyam,  in  Tra- 
vancore.  The  house  stands  on  a  gentle  eminence  on  the 
borders  of  a  lake,  the  banks  of  which,  on  all  sides,  are 
covered  with  trees  and  verdure.  We  crossed  the  water  in 
a  boat  beautifully  ornamented  with  palm,  in  which  we  were 
received  by  two  clergymen,  who  conducted  us  to  the  house. 
On  the  entrance,  his  lordship  was  received  by  the  five 
missionaries  present ;  and  Mr.  Lambrick  read  an  address, 
in  the  name  of  all,  most  touchingly  and  admirably  worded, 
expressive  of  their  joy  at  ranging  themselves  under  his 
paternal  authority,  their  gratitude  for  his  kindness,  their 
thankfulness  for  his  present  visit,  and  at  seeing  a  friend,  ? 


3.'3 


protector,  and  a  father  in  their  lawful  superior,  and  toe*- 
laying  before  him  the  account  of  their  state  and  prospects. 
I  assure  you  it  was  neither  read  nor  heard  without  tears. 
The  Bishop  (who  had  had  no  previous  intimation  of  their 
purpose)  returned  a  most  kind  and  affectionate  answer, 
attaching  to  himself  still  more  strongly  the  hearts  which 
were  already  his  own.  His  utterance  was  ready,  and  only 
checked  by  the  strong  emotion  of  the  time.  The  scene 
was  to  me  (an  honoured  spectator  of  the  whole)  most 
beautiful.  We  were  embowered  in  the  sequestered  woods 
of  Ceylon,  in  the  midst  of  a  heathen  population,  and  yet 
here  was  a  transaction  worthy  of  the  apostolic  age ;  a 
Christian  Bishop,  his  heart  full  of  love  and  full  of  zeal  for 
the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master,  received  in  his  proper 
character  by  a  body  of  missionaries  of  his  own  Church, 
who  with  full  confidence  and  affection  ranged  themselves 
under  his  authority  as  his  servants  and  fellow-labourers — 
men  of  devoted  piety,  of  sober  wisdom,  whose  labours  were 
at  that  moment  before  us,  and  whose  reward  is  in  heaven. 
Tt  realized  my  ideas  of  true  missionary  labour.  Immediately 
after  the  address  we  went  into  the  house  to  family  prayers. 
Mr.  Lambrick  read  a  chapter  of  Isaiah  (the  63d,)  and  the 
Bishop  prayed,  repeating,  according  to  his  custom,  a  selec- 
tion of  the  Church  prayers,  and  introducing  before  the 
thanksgiving,  a  prayer  for  that  institution,  and  all  that  were 
engaged  in  its  service.  We  then  breakfasted,  and  after 
breakfast  the  schools  were  collected  in  the  large,  open, 
covered  space  before  the  house,  which  is  used  as  a  place 
for  preaching.  The  Bishop  examined  them  all,  and  spoke 
to  them,  and  catechized  them.  There  were,  I  think,  about 
'wo  hundred  present.  At  twelve  o'clock  we  returned  home 
— the  Bishop  rejoicing  in  what  he  had  seen,  and  I  rejoicing 


24 

in  the  privilege  of  sharing  his  joy.  Would  to  God  every 
missionary  station  could  exhibit  the  same  beautiful  sight  of 
zeal  and  Church  order  strengthening  and  adorning  each 
other  ! 

September  7th.  This  has  been  a  very  busy  and  fatiguing 
day:  I  tremble  for  our  dear  Bishop's  strength.  We  had 
a  long  meeting  of  the  District  Committee  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  in  the  morning,  after 
which  the  Bishop  went  to  visit  Mr.  Armour's  seminary — a 
government  central  school  placed  under  that  gentleman's 
superintendence,  where  Europeans  and  natives  are  excel- 
lently taught  English,  Portuguese,  Tamil,  and  Cingalese. 
His  lordship  examined  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  boys, 
and  it  was  four  hours  before  we  got  home. 

September  8th.  A  most  happy  day,  and  happily  con- 
cluded. In  the  morning  the  Bishop  held  a  confirmation  ; 
ihere  Were  two  hundred  and  ten  candidates — about  equal 
numbers  of  English,  Portuguese,  Cingalese,  and  Tamil. 
It  was  a  noble  and  affecting  sight,  to  see  so  many  of  different 
nations  and  languages  joined  as  one  family,  and  owning 
allegiance  to  one  common  Father.  The  Bishop  went 
through  the  whole  service  both  in  English  and  Portuguese 
liimself.  The  effect  on  all,  of  his  officiating  in  the  latter, 
was  electric ;  every  heart  felt  it.  In  the  other  languages 
the  respective  native  ministers  interpreted,  reading  in 
Tamil  and  Cingalese  the  prayers  he  offered  in  English, 
lie  delivered  his  address  from  the  pulpit,  so  that  the  whole 
congregation,  which  was  very  large,  might  hear  him. 
When  we  came  home,  he  told  me  he  had  never  witnessed 
so  delightful  a  service,  and  never  felt  his  heart  so  much 
interested  for  the  candidates  on  any  occasion.  It  was 
evident,  indeed,  from  his  whole  appearance  at  the  altar, 


25 

All  were  struck  with  his  fatherly  manner,  and  his  deep 
seriousness  in  the  imposition  of  hands.  He  repeated  the 
form  of  blessing  once  for  each  circle  at  the  rails,  but  over 
each  child  he  breathed  a  silent  prayer  while  he  laid  his 
hand  on  its  head.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  you  how  he  is 
beloved  and  honoured  here  ;  but  I  begin  seriously  to  trem- 
ble for  his  life.  It  seems  hardly  possible  for  his  frame 
(which  is  but  slight)  to  bear  long  such  labour.  Into  every 
detail  of  business,  as  well  as  into  these  solemn  and  public 
services,  he  throws  the  whole  power  of  his  active  mind, 
anxiously  investigating  all  that  is  brought  before  him,  and 
devising  plans  of  more  extended  usefulness. 

This  evening  the  clergy  (all  the  missionaries  of  the 
Church  included)  dined  with  him;  and  after  dinner  he 
proposed  the  formation  of  a  clerical  meeting,  on  a  plan  for 
many  years  adopted  by  my  father,  and  which,  at  his  lord- 
ship's request,  I  had  previously  detailed  to  him.  It  was 
joyfully  acceded  to,  and  I  acted  as  secretary  in  writing 
down  the  rules  as  he  proposed  them.  In  the  prayers  which 
followed,  he  offered  up  a  fervent  petition  for  its  continuance 
and  success,  justly  calling  it  a  primitive  and  almost  apostolic 
usage.  It  was  delightful  to  me  to  hear  the  public  testimony 
to  my  beloved  father's  wisdom  and  piety  from  one  so 
capable  of  appreciating  his  character.  I  had  been  unwell 
in  the  morning,  and  was  lying  on  my  bed  when  the  Bishop 
came  into  my  room  to  discuss  the  subject.  It  led  us  natur- 
ally to  converse  on  his  many  excellencies ;  and  on  my 
remarking  that  I  had  often  felt  ashamed  when  I  contrasted 
my  own  ample  income  with  the  scanty  provision  which  such 
a  man  had  received  from  the  Church,  he  said,  while  his 
ryes  filled  with  tears—"  What  then  ought  I  to  feel!" 

September  9th,  1825.    This  morning  I  called  on  the 
C  2 


26 


Wesleyan  missionaries,  and  visited  and  examined  then- 
central  school.  They  have  an  excellent  chapel  adjoining 
the  mission-house,  with  a  noble  school-room.  Their  con- 
gregations, I  believe,  are  generally  good;  but  I  was  rather 
disappointed  with  the  appearance  of  the  school.  I  delivered 
a  kind  message  to  them  from  the  Bishop,  who  would  have 
visited  them  if  he  could  have  found  a  leisure  hour.  They 
have  just  received  a  great  accession  of  strength,  in  the 
arrival  of  a  young  man  of  education  from  England,  to 
superintend  the  school  on  a  superior  plan. 

September  10th.  This  evening  we  had  a  pleasant  clerical 
dinner  at  the  archdeacon's,  and  were  all  heartily  glad  to 
get  to  bed  early ;  we  have  a  busy  day  to-morrow,  and  the 
labours  of  the  week  have  given  us  but  little  rest.  The 
question  of  the  government  schools  is  yet  before  the  Bishop, 
and  still  is  most  perplexing.  I  cannot  tell  you  the  manifold 
difficulties  that  are  in  the  way.  I  was  with  his  lordship  in 
close  conference  this  afternoon  for  four  hours,  and  the  way 
seems  somewhat  clearer  than  it  was.  I  ventured  to  press 
strongly  upon  him  the  necessity  of  bending  his  chief  attention 
to  raising  the  character  and  efficiency  of  the  native  propo- 
nents, choosing  suitable  men  for  that  office,  holding  out  to 
some  the  hope  of  promotion  to  the  orders  of  the  Church, 
;md  promising  two  of  the  best,  that,  when  he  returns,  he  will 
give  them  deacons'  orders,  if  their  conduct  seems  to  deserve 
it,  and  then  keeping  them  several  years  as  probationers 
before  they  are  admitted  priests.  This  I  hope  will  have  a 
good  effect  on  the  whole  body,  making  them  active  superin- 
tendents of  the  schools  in  their  several  districts,  and  provid- 
ing also  a  nursery  for  the  native  priesthood  hereafter. 

September  11th,  Sunday.  When  I  tell  you  that  at  seven 
ihis  morning  the  Bishop  attended  the  Malabar  Church,  and 


pronounced  the  benediction  in  Tamil — that  he  preached 
a  sermon  for  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,  at  the  English  Church  in  the  fort,  at 
eleven,  and  administered  the  sacrament  to  upwards  of  two 
hundred  communicants — that  at  four  ho  attended  the  Cin- 
galese Church,  and  delivered  the  blessing  in  that  language 
— and,  at  half-past  six,  the  English  service  in  the  fort — you 
will  not  wonder  that  we  are  exhausted.  I  have  had  indeed 
but  little  to  do,  having  only  read  prayers,  but  the  excite- 
ment and  interest  in  the  services  of  such  a  day  are  in 
themselves  fatiguing.   The  Malabar  Church  was  to  me  the 
most  interesting.    It  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  seen  a 
regular  church  of  native  Christians,  or  heard  our  venerable 
liturgy  in  any  language  but  our  own.    Here  was  a  most 
orderly  and  respectable  congregation  of  eighty  or  ninety 
persons,  with  several  females  of  good  family,  covered  with 
rich  jewels,  and  all  joining  with  great  attention  and  ap- 
parent devotion  in  the  responses  of  the  service.    His  lord- 
ship was  particularly  pleased  with  the  singing  of  the  psalms 
in  Tamil  to  the  old  German  tunes.    Christian  David  well 
deserves  the  character  I  had  heard  of  him,  and  is  indeed 
an  admirable  preacher ;  his  manner  is  eloquent,  and  his 
influence  over  his  own  countrymen  appears  considerable. 
The  effect  upon  the  people,  of  our  Bishop  presiding  in  the 
church  and  pronouncing  the  blessing  in  their  own  tongue, 
was  excellent.  The  Cingalese  service  was  also  interesting. 
It  is  performed  in  a  Dutch  church,  called  Wolfendorf — a 
noble  simple  building,  in  the  form  of  a  Greek  cross,  with  a 
central  dome.    Mr.  De  Saram  officiated,  and  his  father, 
one  of  the  chief  moodeliars,  was  present.    After  the  ser- 
vice, the  Bishop  went  up  and  shook  hands  with  the  old 
man,  who  was  quite  delighted  with  this  mark  of  kindness 


28 


and  consideration.  His  lordship  was  almost  overcome  with, 
his  feelings  at  the  altar  this  morning,  especially  in  the 
prayers  after  the  communion.  I  said,  as  we  drove  home, 
"  I  fear  you  are  exhausted."  He  said,  "  I  am  tired  indeed, 
but  I  would  give  some  years  of  my  life  for  such  days  as 
this." 

September  12th.  We  had  a  public  meeting  this  morning 
at  the  king's  house,  to  consider  of  the  best  means  to  forward 
the  views  opened  by  the  Bishop's  sermon  yesterday,  and 
for  collecting  funds  in  aid  of  Bishop's  College.  It  was 
agreed  to  found  a  Cingalese  teachership ;  and,  if  more  if 
subscribed  than  answers  that  end,  to  devote  it  to  the  general 
purposes  of  the  college.  The  Bishop  has  given  the  whole 
of  his  £300  towards  it ;  and  though  the  meeting  was  very 
small,  yet  upwards  of  £250  were  subscribed,  in  addition  to 
the  collection  yesterday.  I  have  been  preparing  a  report 
for  the  press,  to  be  circulated  through  the  island,  and  a 
large  increase  of  funds  is  expected  from  the  smaller  sta- 
tions. 

September  13th.  The  Church  missionaries  sent  me 
vestcrday  their  address  to  the  Bishop,  and  with  it  a  paper 
of  questions,  which  they  wished  to  refer  to  his  decision, 
chiefly  with  respect  to  the  prayer  meeting  (which  I  men- 
tioned before)  and  some  other  missionary  difficulties.  He 
has  been  answering  these  queries  this  morning;  and  the 
letter  is  so  admirable,  and  not  only  explains  his  sentiments 
on  this  important  and  difficult  subject,  but  illustrates  so 
fully  the  spirit  and  temper  of  his  pastoral  character,  that  I 
>end  you  a  copy  of  it.* 

To-morrow  morning  we  start  for  Candy.  The  governor 


Vide  Appendix. 


■29 


drives  the  Bishop  in  his  buggy,  and  I  go  with  Mrs.  Heber 
in  a  palanquin  carriage.  Six  relays  of  horses  are  on  the 
road,  and  we  expect  to  reach  Candy  (seventy-eight  miles) 
on  Thursday  morning.  We  shall  all  be  glad  of  the  com- 
parative rest  which  this  excursion  will  give  us. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  Bishop's  time  will  not 
allow  him  to  visit  all  the  subordinate  stations  in  the  island ; 
but  this  is  impossible.  The  most  interesting,  perhaps,  of 
those  he  will  not  have  seen,  are  Jaffna,  Trincomalce,  and 
Batticaloa. 

The  province  of  Jaffna  is  said  to  contain  180,000  in- 
habitants; of  whom  154,000  are  Heathens,  15,000  Mussul- 
mans, 10,000  Roman  Catholics,  and  1500  Protestants. 
The  people  in  general  are  described  as  industrious  and 
intelligent,  and  better  husbandmen  than  the  natives  of  the 
other  districts.  They  have  excellent  crops  of  rice  and 
other  grain,  and  cultivate  the  palmyra  in  great  abundance, 
with  comparatively  few  cocoa-nuts.  A  little  Portuguese  is 
spoken,  but  a  very  corrupt  and  mongrel  dialect;  the  pre- 
vailing language  is  Tamil,  which  extends  indeed  along  the 
whole  coast  of  the  island,  from  Negumbo  W.  to  Combokenar 
E.  The  American  missionaries  have  five  stations  in  this 
province;  and  one  of  the  most  judicious  arrangements  of 
their  system  is,  that  while  they  divide  their  strength,  and 
thus  extend  their  usefulness,  their  stations  are  not  more  than 
five  miles  distant  from  each  other,  so  that,  for  all  purposes 
requiring  immediate  co-operation,  they  can  without  difficulty 
consult  together,  and  thus  concentrate  their  forces  with 
advantage.  At  Battacotta  they  have  established  a  central 
school,  where  the  elements  of  geography,  astronomy,  English 
grammar,  and  arithmetic  are  taught,  and  the  students  of 
which  are  chosen  from  the  boarding  schools,  to  be  trained 


30 


up  a3  catechists,  readers,  and  school-masters.  Pandatcripo, 
Ooddoville,  and  Manipaec  are  inferior  stations.  In  the  first 
of  these  there  is  a  large  Roman  Catholic  congregation,  with 
a  priest  from  Goa;  and  in  the  second,  Mrs.  Winslow,  tho 
wife  of  the  missionary,  has  a  flourishing  female  school. 
The  boarding  schools,  both  for  girls  and  hoys,  which  form 
the  nursery  for  Batticotta,  are  established  at  TiMpaH:, 
and  are  supplied  with  scholars  from  the  other  inferior  stations. 
There  is  much  to  admire  and  imitate  in  the  whole  of  this 
system. 

The  station  occupied  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
in  this  district,  and  where  two  ordained  clergymen  reside,  is 
jVelloor.  It  is  about  twenty  miles  from  Point  Pedro,  and 
is  famous  for  a  great  temple  of  Candi  Swami,  whose  annual 
festival,  in  July,  is  numerously  attended.  I  do  not  hear  that 
there  are  any  learned  men  among  the  priests  of  the  temple. 
The  establishment  of  our  missionaries  there  is  very  promis- 
ing, and  tho  Bishop  was  much  pleased  with  the  accounts 
which  he  received  from  Mr.  Knight  and  Mr.  Adlcy,  of  the 
hopeful  appearance  of  their  infant  church.  They  have 
eight  schools,  which  contain  two  hundred  and  eighty  boys, 
and  twenty-five  girls ;  one  Sunday  school  for  girls,  ten  of 
whom  are  also  daily  instructed  in  reading  and  needle-work 
by  Mrs.  Adley ;  and  one  boarding  school  for  inferior 
branches  of  education,  into  which  boys  are  generally  drafted 
from  the  inferior  day-schools.  The  number  of  boys  there 
nt  present  is  nineteen.  Christian  David's  church,  to  which 
iie  is  regularly  appointed  as  colonial  chaplain,  is  about  one 
mile  from  the  fort  of  Jajfua,  and  said  to  be  numerously 
attended.  He  has  a  good  catechist,  and  a  respectable 
school.  During  his  absence  at  Columbo,  his  duty  here  has 
lately  been  supplied  by  Mr.  Knight.    There  are  also  two 


3  J 


or  three  smaller  congregations  along  the  coast,  particularly 
at  Minar,  which  he  visits  occasionally. 

At  Trincomalec,  our  chief  naval  station  in  the  Indian 
seas,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lyon  is  chaplain  to  the  forces.  We 
have  no  missionary  there  connected  with  our  Church,  nor 
does  it  appear,  from  the  accounts  the  Bishop  receives  of 
it,  that  there  is  much  encouragement  for  any  Christian 
exertions  among  the  native  population.  They  are  said  to 
be  greatly  demoralized,  and  of  late  years  have  decreased 
considerably. 

The  most  promising  field  of  labour  on  the  eastern  coast, 
is  in  the  district  of  Batticaloa,  extending  about  one  hundred 
miles  in  length,  from  the  Vergul  River  N.  to  Combokenar 
S.,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  broad.  The  number  of 
inhabitants  rather  exceeds  30,000,  two-thirds  of  whom 
perhaps  are  Mussulmans.  They  are  generally  poor  and 
ignorant,  but  their  moral  character  is  superior  to  that  of 
the  other  districts.  The  influence  of  caste  is  but  small, 
and  the  persons  of  chief  rank  and  authority  are  either 
already  Christians,  or  sincere  inquirers.  There  are  three 
schools  supported  by  Mr.  Moyart,  whom  I  mentioned 
before  ;  and  the  Wesleyans,  who  have  an  assistant  mission- 
ary there,  have  established  five  others  ;  in  all  of  these  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty  boys  are  educated  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Pooliantcevoo,*  the  principal  residence 
of  the  collector.  There  are  a  few  Roman  Catholic  Chris- 
tians in  the  district,  but  they  have  no  resident  priest,  anu 
are  visited  once  a  year  by  the  priest  from  Trincomalee. 

The  Bishop  called  me  to  join  him  in  his  walk  by  the 
side  of  the  lake  this  evening,  and  expressed  his  confiden! 


"  "  The  Tamarind  Island.' 


32 


expectation  that  the  diocese  (the  labour  of  which,  he  felt, 
was  fast  exhausting  his  strength)  would  soon  be  divided 
into  smaller  bishoprics.  The  slight  detail  which  I  have 
just  given,  will  enable  you  to  judge  how  numerous  and 
complicated  are  the  subjects  of  interest  that  press  on  his 
mind,  even  in  this  small  and  remote  corner  of  his  immense 
charge. 

September  14th.  We  got  into  our  carriages  at  day- 
break, and  passing  over  a  beautiful  bridge  of  boats  at  four 
miles  from  Columbo,  pursued  our  journey  through  a  most 
charming  country,  abounding  in  all  kinds  of  trees  and 
flowering  shrubs.  Twenty-four  miles  brought  us  to  Veean- 
goddy,*  where  we  breakfasted.  The  whole  road  was 
adorned  with  palm,  and  triumphal  arches  here  and  there, 
most  tastily  arranged,  or  rather  octagonal  towers  of  open 
palm-work,  through  which  the  carriage  drives.  Nothing 
can  exceed  the  taste  with  which  the  breakfast-house  was 
adorned  ;  and  entirely  the  work  of  natives,  at  the  shortest 
notice,  without  drawings  or  other  assistance.  At  noon  we 
were  in  our  carriages  again,  and  came  thirty  miles  to  din- 
ner ; — but  through  what  a  country  !  Every  moment  fresh 
beauties  burst  upon  us.  Hitherto  from  the  coast  it  had 
been  flat,  and  extremely  like  the  finer  parts  of  Bengal; 
but  now  the  hills  began  to  swell  around  us,  the  distant 
mountains  were  seen,  the  scenery  became  more  and  more 
bold,  and  during  the  whole  afternoon  ride,  our  conversation 
was  little  else  than  one  continued  exclamation  of  wonder 
and  delight.  It  is  quite  hopeless  to  attempt  any  description 
of  the  scenery.  The  Bishop  says  there  is  nothing  like  it 
in  the  world.    The  hills,  whose  forms  are  most  glorious. 

*  Goddy  means  a  small  rising  ground— a  hillock. 


3d 

are  literally  masses  of  rock  clothed  (Uovv  it  is  possible  1 
know  not)  with  trees  of  exquisite  foliage,  and  creepers  in 
luxuriant  beauty  throwing  over  them  their  light  and  elegant 
drapery.  The  shrubs  and  trees  (of  which  there  are  many 
varieties  elsewhere  unknown)  retain  their  beauty  through- 
out the  year. 

September  15th.  At  six  this  morning  we  mounted  our 
horses  to  ascend  the  Ghaut  (the  Cadaganuwa  Pass,)  and 
it  is  certainly  true  that  all  we  saw  yesterday  did  not  deserve 
to  be  compared  to  this.  The  road  is  cut  with  immense 
labour  in  the  side  of  the  mountain.  Above  you,  for  some 
hundred  feet,  is  rock,  almost  perpendicular,  literally  covered 
to  the  very  summit  with  the  finest  trees ;  abundance  of 
ebony  (which  grows  to  no  very  great  size,  a  tall  stem, 
rough  dark  rind,  with  light  spots  and  small  leaf,)  with  ten 
thousand  varieties  of  creeper,  and  here  and  there  masses 
of  naked  rock  appearing,  to  relieve  the  sated  eye,  and  to 
give  form  and  character  to  the  whole.  Below  you  is  a 
precipice  exactly  similar,  ending  in  beautiful  reposing  val- 
leys, and  the  view  stretching  on  to  other  hills  and  mountains 
of  equal  beauty.  In  the  middle  of  the  pass,  when  we  had 
ascended  about  six  miles,  we  found  breakfast  ready  in  a 
palace  of  palms  erected  for  the  occasion.  We  were  met 
here  by  some  of  the  Candian  chiefs,  called  Adigars.  Their 
dress  is  singular  and  very  handsome.  They  wear  a  turban 
exactly  like  an  enormous  old-fashioned  pin-cushion,  such 
as  used  to  stand  on  a  lady's  toilet,  richly  ornamented,  and 
with  a  little  upright  point  in  the  centre.  Their  upper 
dress  is  a  jacket  like  a  lady's  body  unfastened,  of  rich 
materials,  cloth  of  gold  or  brocade,  with  gold  buttons  and 
puffed  sleeves.  Under  this  is  a  waistcoat  of  the  same,  or 
rather  lighter  stuff,  and  buttoned  up  close.    Their  lower 

D 


34 


garments  arc  an  immense  mass  of  cloth  twisted  round  thern 
in  many  folds,  very  protuberant  before  (as  if  they  carried 
a  month's  provision,)  and  hanging  loose  to  their  feet. 
Round  the  loins  this  mass  is  confined  by  a  superb  band  of 
gold  or  silver.  The  stones  of  their  rings  are  enormous, 
some  not  less  than  two  inches  in  diameter ;  one  on  each 
hand,  of  rubies  and  diamonds  mixed,  with  several  others  of 
single  stones.  The  two  chief  Adigars  of  the  empire  are 
distinguished  by  the  whimsical  privilege  of  having  an  enor- 
mous whip  cracked  before  them  wherever  they  go.  No 
other  man  in  the  island  dare  go  out  thus  attended.  The 
countenance  of  these  people  is  much  finer  than  the  Cin- 
galese of  the  coast,  less  feminine,  and  more  free  and  in- 
dependent, as  all  mountaineers  naturally  are.  Many  of 
them  know  English,  though  so  lately  conquered ;  and  one 
of  them,  (a  very  smart,  active  fellow,  the  son  of  a  rebel 
chief,)  to  whom  Mrs.  Heber  was  showing  a  sketch  she  had 
just  made,  said  it  was  well  done,  but  that  he  did  not  like 
landscape — he  preferred  figures,  and  he  would  have  the 
honour  of  presenting  her  with  some  of  his  own  drawings 
to-morrow !  We  came  on  eight  miles  further  in  our  car- 
riages, and  arrived  at  Candy  about  noon.  It  is  beautifully 
situated  among  hills,  the  town  itself  laid  out  in  straight 
streets,  in  all  other  respects  like  a  small  Indian  town ;  the 
palace  very  paltry.  We  drove  to  the  governor's  pavilion, 
where  all  the  chief  persons,  native  as  well  as  European, 
immediately  attended  a  levee,  after  which  the  Bishop  went 
to  the  house  of  the  gentleman  who  was  appointed  to  receive 
him,  and  I  remain  with  Sir  Edward.  The  pavilion  is  a 
temporary  residence  only,  with  separate  bungalows,  a  cir- 
cular dining-room,  and  the  grounds  beautifully  laid  out. 
The  dining-room  is  on  a  terrace  which  overlooks  the  coun- 


35 


*y,  and  opens  on  level  grass-plots,  always  green,  with  a 
noble  hill  rising  behind.  There  was  no  bathing-room  to 
my  bungalow,  and  one  was  built  of  palms,  literally  in  half 
an  hour.  We  dined  this  evening  at  Mr.  Sawyer's,  with 
whom  the  Bishop  is  living.  The  climate  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  Poona,  but  far  healthier.  As  a  proof  of  this,  there 
is  a  regiment  of  Europeans  here  (his  majesty's  83d)  who 
have  only  four  men  in  hospital ;  a  circumstance,  I  imagine, 
of  which  very  few  stations  in  the  world  can  boast. 

September  IGth.  Sir  Edward  took  us  this  evening  a 
beautiful  ride,  about  a  mile  from  the  pavilion,  where  a 
gorge  in  the  hills  displays  a  prospect  which  all  agree  to  be 
the  most  lovely,  even  in  Ceylon.  It  is  more  open  and 
extended  than  any  thing  we  have  hitherto  seen  in  this  hilly 
tract,  and  is  called  Dombra  Valley.  The  Peak  of  Dombra 
is  a  noble  mountain  on  the  opposite  side,  its  summit  covered 
with  clouds,  a  number  of  tributary  mountains  round  him, 
and  in  the  distance,  on  either  side,  hills  tumbled  together 
in  the  most  romantic  confusion.  The  valley  is  clearer  from 
jungle  than  any  I  have  observed  ;  the  fields  are  not  level 
ground,  but  gentle  swells,  covered  with  the  richest  verdure 
and  separated  by  little  tufts  of  trees.  Through  this  valley 
is  the  course  of  the  river  that  almost  encircles  Candy,  and 
rises  in  Adam's  Peak,  the  Mahavilla  Gunga.  Our  road 
lay  along  the  declivity  of  a  hill  towards  the  city,  covered 
with  wood ;  then  sloped  off  through  a  long  and  exquisitely 
beautiful  grove  of  palms,  by  the  banks  of  the  river.  We 
loitered  here  till  it  was  almost  dark,  and,  as  we  returned, 
the  whole  ground  was  spangled  with  fire-flies,  the  form  of 
every  bush  being  distinctly  traced  by  these  living  stars. 
The  whole  ride  was  magic.  We  reached  home  very  late, 
and  went  to  dine  at  a  large  party  given  by  one  of  the  chief 


36 

civilians,  who  lives  in  the  state-rooms  of  the  king  of  Candy 
— about  as  good  as  a  common  farm-house,  with  a  brick 
floor.  Most  part  of  the  palace  was  pulled  down,  and  what 
remains  is  used  for  public  offices  and  houses.  The  audi- 
ence-hall is  now  the  court-house  and  the  church. 

September  17th.  The  Bishop  visited  Mr.  Browning  at 
the  Church  mission-house,  and  was  pleased  with  the  schools 
which  he  examined.  There  are  about  eighty  boys,  several 
of  good  family,  especially  two  brothers  of  our  friend  Loco 
Bendez,  who  read  English  very  creditably  indeed.  This 
establishment  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  the  native  con- 
gregation is  of  course  but  small.  I  did  not  understand  that 
Mr.  Browning  had  made  any  converts  from  heathenism, 
but  he  is  usefully  employed  among  the  nominal  native 
Christians,  and  his  labours  are  very  considerable,  more 
perhaps  than  his  weak  health  can  bear.  On  our  road  we 
passed  by  several  Boodh  temples,  and  the  cemetery  of  the 
kings  of  Candy,  the  chief  beauty  of  which  arises  from  the 
magnificent  trees  which  overshadow  the  tombs.  The  Bishop 
made  some  rapid  sketches,  leaving  his  palanquin  occasion- 
ally for  a  few  minutes  as  we  passed  along.  You  are  aware 
that  the  religion  of  Ceylon  is  not  Brahminical,  but  Boodhist: 
they  pay  divine  honours  to  a  sage  of  gigantic  dimensions, 
called  Boodh  or  Goutamah,  who  appeared  on  earth,  as 
they  believe,  about  six  centuries  before  the  Christian  era, 
to  reform  and  instruct  mankind.  His  religion  seems  to 
approach  to  the  morality  of  pure  Deism.  It  prevails  still 
throughout  the  empire  of  Burmah  and  the  neighbouring 
kingdoms,  and  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  it  ex- 
tended at  one  time  over  the  whole  of  India ;  but  in  the 
twelfth  century  it  was  almost  exterminated  in  that  country 
by  the  persecutions  of  the  Brahmins.    Their  temples  are 


37 


neat,  and  much  cleaner  than  the  Hindoo.  They  contain 
a  figure  of  the  sage  (one  that  we  saw  on  Saturday  was  very 
gigantic,)  reclining  on  his  side,  and  supporting  his  head 
with  his  hand.  The  walls  are  covered  with  paintings  of 
his  attendants,  hut  nothing  monstrous  or  supernatural.  In 
one  of  the  temples  at  Candy  they  preserve  with  great  care 
a  precious  relic — a  tooth  of  Boodh.  It  is  kept  under  several 
bell-framed  vessels,  one  within  another,  of  gold  and  silver, 
enriched  with  precious  stones ;  the  last,  which  covers  the 
relic,  studded  with  very  fine  rubies.  This  is  never  seen 
but  on  solemn  occasions.  The  Bishop  did  not  see  it,  as  it 
seemed  doubtful  whether  his  visit  might  not  be  misinter- 
preted. In  a  rebellion  that  broke  out  some  years  ago,  this 
relic  was  stolen  by  the  rebels,  and  a  counterfeit  dexterously 
substituted  in  its  place.  The  possession  of  it  gave  great 
spirit  to  the  faction,  from  a  tradition  which  prevailed,  that 
the  relic  secured  the  sovereignty  to  its  possessor.  It  was 
recovered  by  a  British  officer  (Colonel  Kelly,  of  the  83d) 
on  the  person  of  a  begging  priest,  and  replaced  in  the 
temple,  where  it  now  is.  The  priests  of  Boodh  are  a  stu- 
pid race,  and  have  little  or  no  literature.  Their  books 
consist  of  a  few  paltry  fabulous  histories  of  Ceylon,  a  few 
story  books,  and  by  far  the  greater  part  are  treatises  on 
medicine.  They  dress  in  yellow,  and  each  one  carries  a 
small  fan — "  the  mystic  fan  of  Bacchus."  They  are  good 
botanists,  great  collectors  of  simples,  and  even  the  common 
people  can  tell  you  the  name  of  almost  every  plant  you  see. 

September  17th.  Our  friend  the  governor  is  an  admir- 
able guide  through  the  beauties  of  his  favourite  Candjr.  I 
retired  last  night  with  the  conviction  that  I  had  seen  the 
most  beautiful  point  of  the  surrounding  scenery ;  he  has, 
however,  taken  us  to-night  to  one  of  a  different  character, 
D2 


38 


but  hardly  inferior  in  beauty.  The  two  parties  united  made 
a  considerable  cavalcade,  and  we  rode  to  a  tunnel  which 
the  governor  has  lately  cut  through  a  formidable  hill.  It  is 
an  ample  passage,  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  four  hundred 
feet  long,  and  thirty  or  forty  feet  high.    Through  this  we 
descended  by  a  noble  road  to  the  bed  of  the  river  (on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  city  from  the  course  we  took  last 
night,)  and  thence  ascended  along  the  edge  of  the  hill 
through  which  we  had  passed  by  the  tunnel.  Nothing 
could  be  more  picturesque  than  our  party  winding  along 
this  road.    It  is  very  narrow  (four  feet  only,)  cut  in  the 
declivity  of  the  hill.    Ask  your  brother  to  describe  the 
roads  in  the  Pyrenees.    Sir  Edward  says  it  gives  a  very 
perfect  idea  of  them.    But  then  you  must  add  the  foliage 
of  Ceylon,  and  the  noble  palms,  mixed  with  other  trees, 
which  Spain  can  hardly  rival.    This  four-foot  road  ex- 
tended three  miles,  and  as  it  was  quite  dark  before  we  left 
it  for  a  wider  path,  I  confess  I  felt  not  a  little  relieved  at 
exchanging  it  for  a  surer  footing. 

September  18th,  Sunday.  The  Bishop  held  a  confirma- 
tion this  morning  at  seven.  The  church  is  at  present  held 
in  the  audience-hall  of  the  late  king.  About  thirty  persons 
were  confirmed.  His  lordship  delivered  an  address  much 
altered  from  the  one  I  had  heard  from  him  before,  and 
excellently  adapted  to  local  circumstances.  The  power  of 
seizing  on  such  topics  of  interest  is  one  among  the  many 
beauties  of  his  rich  and  powerful  mind.  After  we  returned 
home,  before  breakfast,  I  was  mentioning  to  him  how 
forcibly  it  had  struck  me,  during  the  service,  that  in  that 
hall  where,  a  few  years  ago,  the  most  savage  tyrant*  re- 

'  Sri  Wikreme  Raja,  the  last  Icing  of  Candy,  was  solemnly  deposed. 


89 


ceived  his  miserable  subjects — and  even  the  English  em- 
bassy was  compelled  to  be  almost  prostrate  before  him — a 
Christian  Bishop  was  now  administering  the  solemn  ordi- 
nances of  our  religion.    He  leaned  his  head  on  his  hand 
and  burst  into  tears.    How  wonderful  is  the  providence  of 
God  in  the  economy  of  his  Church  !  Never  was  any  people 
intrusted  with  such  power  of  doing  good  as  England  now 
is ;  nor  is  it  possible,  in  the  nature  of  things,  that  this  power 
can  long  endure  ;  her  dominion,  like  that  of  other  nations 
that  have  preceded  her,  must  pass  away.    What  a  fearful 
responsibility  on  the  government  and  its  ministers,  on  the 
nation  and  all  its  children,  and  (above  all)  on  our  Church 
and  its  rulers  !    Such  was  our  conversation  in  the  palace 
of  the  emperor  of  Candy  on  this  memorable  morning.  At 
eleven  the  Bishop  preached  on  Luke  x.  42,  ("  One  thing 
is  needful,")  and  administered  the  sacrament  to  about  forty 
communicants.  He  has  established  also  an  evening  service 
at  four  o'clock,  and  we  had  a  very  good  congregation  of 
soldiers  and  others.    The  men  of  the  83d  especially  are 
most  thankful  to  the  Bishop  for  this  new  service. 

September  19th.  We  left  Candy  at  sun-rise,  and  rode 
to  the  Botanic  Garden,  three  miles  from  the  town,  where 
we  breakfasted.  The  garden  is  beautifully  laid  out  by  Mr. 
Moon,  the  late  naturalist,  who  died  a  short  time  ago,  and 
is  universally  regretted.  After  breakfast  we  came  on  to 
this  place,  Ootooan-Candy,  where  we  halt  for  the  night, 
making  our  journey  to-day  twenty-four  miles. 

September  20th.  After  a  pleasant  journey  of  fifty  miles, 

by  a  convention  of  the  British  authorities  and  Candian  chiefs,  in  the  year 
1815.  He  is  still  living,  a  state  prisoner,  in  the  fort  of  Vellore.  His 
family  was  Malabar,  which  accounts  for  some  Hindoo  temples  at  Candy, 
the  prevailing  religion  of  the  country  being  Boodhist. 


40 


the  first  ten  on  horseback  and  the  rest  in  our  carriages,  we 
arrived  at  Columbo  in  the  evening,  much  tired,  but  all  of 
us  (especially  our  dear  Bishop)  the  better  for  our  excursion. 

September  21st.  This  morning  the  Bishop  held  a  second 
confirmation,  and  immediately  after  ordained  Mr.  Armour 
priest.  He  had  formerly  received  deacons'  orders  from 
Bishop  Middleton. 

September  22d.  The  first  clerical  meeting  was  held  this 
morning,  after  breakfasting  together,  at  the  Bishop's  house. 
His  lordship  presided  himself,  reading  the  28th  of  St.  Mat- 
thew, and  offering  prayers,  both  before  and  after  the  con- 
ference. The  archdeacon  read  a  very  good  address  on  the 
nature  and  good  effects  that  might  be  expected  from  the 
institution,  and  the  spirit  in  which  such  meetings  should  be 
attended.  Several  important  points  were  then  discussed, 
and  the  Bishop  entered  with  great  life  and  energy  into  the 
business  of  the  morning.  His  address  to  the  clergy,  and 
fatherly  benediction  at  the  end,  were  full  of  feeling,  and 
made  a  strong  impression  on  all.  It  was  a  delightful  and  a 
beautiful  sight — the  world  perhaps  can  show  but  few  equal 
to  it — a  Christian  Bishop  presiding  among  his  clergy  on 
such  an  occasion  and  in  such  a  manner.  At  the  close  of 
the  meeting  the  archdeacon  presented  an  address  to  his 
lordship,  in  his  own  name  and  that  of  the  clergy,  expressive 
of  their  thankfulness,  reverence,  and  affection.  Nothing 
could  be  more  unexpected,  but  his  answer  was  very  noble, 
and  all  parted  with  many  tears.  Is  this  the  nineteenth 
century  or  the  first  ?  The  Bishop  finished  this  evening  his 
long  letter  to  the  governor,  on  the  various  subjects  that 
have  engaged  his  thoughts,  in  which  he  has  embodied  the 
different  plans  proposed  for  schools,  native  preachers,  &c. 
&c.    His  mind  seems  much  relieved  by  this  final  arrange- 


41 


inent,  and  I  have  no  doubt  all  his  wishes  will  be  accom- 
plished. We  dined  at  the  king's  house,  where  we  took 
leave  of  the  governor  and  Lady  Barnes.  We  all  leave 
Columbo  with  sincere  regret,  and  I  am  sure  the  good 
Bishop  leaves  behind  him  an  impression  which  will  never 
be  effaced. 

September  24th,  Baddigam.  Yesterday  and  to-day 
have  been  consumed  in  travelling.  We  arrived  this  even- 
ing at  this  lovely  place,  a  little  out  of  our  direct  road,  and 
about  twelve  miles  from  Galle.  There  is  no  large  town, 
but  several  villages  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  is  well 
cultivated  and  full  of  natural  beauty.  The  two  missionaries 
have  built  their  houses  on  two  neighbouring  hills,  and  the 
river  winds  beneath  them,  through  a  rich  and  verdant 
plain.  We  are  the  guests  of  Mr.  Mayor,  on  whose  hill, 
and  immediately  adjoining  his  house,  the  church  is  built. 
The  top  of  the  hill  has  been  levelled  for  its  site,  with  con- 
siderable labour  and  expense  ;  but  excellent  stone  was  thus 
obtained  for  the  building,  and  it  forms  a  striking  and  in- 
teresting object  in  these  wilds  of  heathen  darkness.  Mr. 
Ward  lives  on  the  opposite  hill :  both  families  are  appa- 
rently amiable  and  excellent  A  number  of  persons  have 
come  over  from  Galle  for  the  service  to-morrow,  that  they 
may  hear  the  Bishop  once  more. 

September  25th,  Sunday.  The  Bishop  consecrated  the 
church,  and  preached  to  a  very  numerous  congregation, 
both  of  Europeans  and  natives.  He  had  resolved  not  to 
consecrate  this  church,  on  the  ground  that  there  was  not 
sufficient  security  against  its  desecration  hereafter ;  on 
which  plea  he  had  refused  at  Chunar.  These  difficulties, 
however,  were  overruled ;  Mr.  Mayor,  in  whom  the  pro- 
perty was  vested,  made  it  over  this  morning  to  the  Bishop 


42 


ef  Calcutta,  the  Archdeacon  of  Columbo,  and  the  Secretary 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  as  trustees.  If  it  was 
such  a  delightful  service  to  us,  what  must  it  have  been  to 
these  admirable  men,  who  have  garnered  up  in  this  seques- 
tered spot  their  hopes  of  future  good !  In  the  afternoon 
the  Bishop  confirmed  twelve  persons  after  the  second 
lesson,  and  I  preached.  In  the  course  of  the  sermon,  after 
alluding  to  the  services  of  the  morning,  I  introduced  a 
prayer  for  the  blessing  of  God  on  labours  so  auspiciously 
commenced,  and  it  was  remarked  that  the  Bishop  threw 
himself  on  his  knees,  and  joined  with  fervour  in  the  petition. 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  this  little  incident  affected  me ; 
how  beautifully  does  it  illustrate  the  habitual  piety  of  his 
mind,  which  needs  only  the  slightest  suggestion  to  awaken 
it! 

We  have  been  walking  this  evening  round  the  verandah 
of  the  church,  overlooking  the  surrounding  country  in  the 
still  repose  of  a  beautiful  moonlight,  and  talking  of  past 
and  future  days.  In  the  verandah,  at  the  east  end,  is  the 
grave  of  their  first  native  convert,  Daniel,  who  died  seven 
months  ago.  His  loss  to  the  mission  was  irreparable;  but 
his  death  may  do  more  than  even  his  life  could  have  done. 
He  was  full  of  energy  and  zeal,  independent  in  character, 
and  high  in  intellect.  His  family  arc  most  of  them  still 
heathen,  and  reside  in  the  neighbourhood.  His  brother, 
who  was  committed  by  him  solemnly  to  the  missionaries  at 
his  death,  says,  that  since  that  time  he  has  never  doubted 
about  Christianity :  the  death-bed  of  Daniel  convinced  him 
of  its  truth. 

The  Bishop  has  been  examining  and  exhorting  the  upper 
class  of  the  Cingalese  and  English  school.  Their  progress 
3Jid  knowledge  are  considerable.  Here  are  the  foundations 


4$ 


of  a  noble  fabric,  a  spiritual  building,  which  will,  ere  long, 
be  the  glory  of  these  lovely  hills.  At  our  family  devotions, 
the  Bishop  offered  a  solemn  prayer  for  the  success  of  this 
mission,  and  for  a  blessing  on  all  connected  with  it.  I 
need  not  add,  that  he  is  followed  by  all  with  the  same  love 
and  reverence  that  has  attended  him  through  the  island. 

September  27th,  Galle.  The  wind  is  still  contrary,  and 
keeps  us  prisoners  here,  in  a  most  uncomfortable  state, 
since  all  our  baggage  is  on  board.  The  delay,  however, 
has,  I  trust,  been  productive  of  good.  There  is  a  young 
man  here,  a  Wesleyan  missionary,  of  very  pleasing  man- 
ners, respectable  attainments,  and  much  beloved  at  this 
station,  both  by  Europeans  and  natives.  He  has  long  had 
a  desire  to  enter  the  Church,  and  he  would  be  a  valuable 
accession  of  strength,  if  it  could  be  achieved.  I  have 
sometimes  talked  to  the  Bishop  about  it,  and  renewed  the 
subject  this  morning.  He  assented  gladly  to  the  proposition, 
provided  there  were  no  objection  to  his  leaving  his  present 
connexion.  His  lordship  sent  the  archdeacon  to  inquire 
iuto  his  views,  and  he  came  himself  this  afternoon  and  bad 
a  long  interview  with  the  Bishop.  He  requested  to  see 
some  of  his  sermons,  and  with  these,  as  well  as  his  conver- 
sation, he  was  much  pleased.  He  has  written,  therefore, 
to  government  this  evening,  to  propose  him  as  a  colonial 
chaplain,  and  to  request  he  may  be  stationed  at  Galle ; 
should  no  objection  arise,  he  will  follow  to  Calcutta  for 
ordination.  If  so  valuable  a  labourer  is  admitted  into  our 
vineyard  (where  he  will  have  a  far  wider  and  more  im- 
portant field  than  he  now  has,)  we  shall  have  no  reason  to 
regret  the  delay.  The  archdeacon,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  I, 
occupy  an  empty  bungalow,  where  we  sleep  in  our  palan- 
quins.   Before  we  creep  into  our  cells,  we  read  a  chapter 


44 


of  the  Scriptures,  and  offer  up  our  united  prayers  for  the 
Church  and  for  each  other.    It  is  our  convent. 

September  28th.  Another  day's  delay  ;  but  the  weather 
appears  clearing,  and  the  wind  coming  round.  The  Bishop 
has  been  able  to  visit  Mrs.  Gibson's  school,  and  catechize 
the  children.  It  is  a  great  honour  to  Bombay,  that  more 
than  half  the  subscriptions  for  the  building  came  from  thence. 

September  30th,  Cruizer  Discovery.  We  came  on  board 
yesterday,  cleared  the  harbour,  and  got  fairly  out  to  sea. 

October  2d,  Sunday.  We  have  a  fine  breeze,  which 
has  carried  us  at  once  into  the  bay,  and  gives  us  the  hope 
of  reaching  Calcutta  in  the  course  of  a  week.  We  had 
service  as  usual  to-day,  the  Bishop  preaching  and  I  reading 
prayers,  though  the  ship  rolled  too  much  to  allow  any  body 
to  stand.  I  have  had  much  talk,  with  his  lordship  about 
the  Syrian  Church  in  Travancore.  lie  is  anxious  to  hear 
of  the  arrival  of  Mar  Anthanasius  amongst  them,  the  Bishop 
whom  we  met  in  Bombay,  and  who  was  proceeding  to 
Malabar  from  the  Patriarch  of  Antioch,  with  the  powers  of 
Metropolitan.  When  at  Columbo,  the  Bishop  received  a 
letter  from  the  missionaries  at  Cotyam,  stating  that  there  is 
no  fear  of  any  division  from  the  arrival  of  the  foreign  dig- 
nitary, and  that  he  will  be  received  with  joy  by  both  clergy 
and  people.  He  hopes  to  cultivate  a  closer  intercourse, 
and  a  constant  correspondence  between  his  Syrian  bre- 
thren.   It  is  most  important  to  do  so. 

October  8th.  I  have  had  a  conversation  this  evening 
with  the  Bishop,  on  the  subject  of  public  and  private 
schools.  He  recommends  a  preparatory  school  tii!  thirteen 
or  fourteen,  and  then  a  public  one.  He  prefers  a  small 
preparatory  school  to  a  lar<xe  one,  and  the  Charter-house 
and  Rugby  to  all  other  public  schools.    With  regard  to 


45 


liazlewood-house,  he  has  heard  much  in  its  praise,  but  his 
fears  are  something  like  mine  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
lie  dreads  any  thing  like  latitudinarianism  on  that  point, 
and  thinks  it  may  have  a  very  mischievous  effect  if  the 
hoys  go  to  different  places  of  worship.  I  should  grieve, 
indeed,  if  my  boy  did  not  grow  up  with  the  same  perfect 
reverence  for  our  Church  that  his  father  and  grandfather 
have  felt,  and  manifested  either  any  hesitation  in  his  pre- 
ference on  one  side,  or  any  want  of  tolerance  or  charity 
on  the  other. 

October  9th.  Another  Sunday  on  board.  The  Bishop 
insisted  on  reading  prayers  this  morning,  and  I  preached: 
next  Sunday  I  hope  we  shall  be  in  the  cathedral.  He 
talked  much  this  evening  about  Thomason,  for  whom  he 
lias  a  very  high  respect  and  regard  :  he  frequently  men- 
tions the  difficulty,  the  impossibility  of  supplying  his  place 
in  Calcutta — in  the  pulpit,  in  the  schools,  in  the  study, 
and  (which  he  thinks,  in  the  present  fermenting  state  of 
public  feeling  in  the  Church,  more  important  than  any) 
in  that  general,  pervading  influence  of  his  just  and  steady 
judgment  on  the  numbers  who  are  personally  attached  to 
him. 

October  14th.  These  baffling  winds  so  near  the  port 
are  very  tantalizing.  Eight  miles  in  twenty-four  hours! 
Our  provisions  for  the  crew  are  getting  short,  as  the  captain 
did  not  anticipate  so  long  a  passage :  his  own  table  will 
hold  out  ten  days  longer,  and  before  that  I  hope  we  may 
work  up.  The  Bishop  has  written  for  me  some  beautiful 
Sines,  which  he  sends  for  your  album ;  they  are  a  translation 
of  a  passage  in  the  Shah-Namch,  and  it  is  a  happy  speci- 
men of  the  ease  with  which,  like  Sir  William  Jones,  he 
r,an  make  the  exotic  beauties  of  Persian  poetry  his  own. 

E 


16 


No  one  that  lias  not  attempted  it  can  conceive  the  extreme 
difficulty  of  this  from  a  language  whose  genius  is  so  different 
from  ours.  If  he  had  but  leisure  for  the  odes  of  the  inimit- 
able Hafiz,  it  would  supersede,  at  once,  all  the  scattered 
attempts  of  others.  But  what  leisure  has  a  Christian  Bi- 
shop to  gather  these  pearls  of  the  East,  except  in  the 
occasional  idleness  of  a  calm  at  sea? 

Seest  thou  yon  shelter  d  vale  of  various  dye, 

Delightful  prospect  to  the  traveller's  eye  ? 

Yon  mossy  seats,  yon  garden  blooming  fair — 

The  turf  all  velvet,  all  perfume  the  air  ? 

Satiate  with  sweets  the  languid  riv  er  laves 

Yon  lilies  floating  on  its  silver  waves ; 

While  through  the  copse  in  bashful  beauty  glows 

The  dark  luxuriance  of  the  lurking  rose. 

Now  seen,  now  lost  amid  the  flowery  maze, 

With  slender  foot  the  nimble  pheasant  strays ; 

The  ring-dove's  murmur  lulls  the  cypress  dell, 

And  richest  note  of  tranced  Philomel. 

Still,  still  the  same  throughout  the  circling  year, 

Unwearied  spring  displays  an  Eden  here. 

And  mark,  my  friend,  where  many  a  beauteous  maid 

Wreathes  the  light  dance  beneath  the  citron  shade  : 

She  first, — of  Touran's  king  the  stately  child, 

Gleams  like  a  sun-ray  through  the  scented  wild; 

Sitara  next, — her  sister,  lovely  queen, 

Than  rose  or  fairest  jasmine  fairer  seen; 

And,  last,  their  Turkish  maids !  whose  sleepy  eyes 

Bask  underneath  the  filmy  veil's  disguise, 

Whose  floating  locks  the  coal-black  musk  disclose, 

Their  forms  the  cypress,  and  their  cheeks  the  rose,  \ 

While  on  each  sugar'd  lip  the  grape's  rich  water  glows.  / 

How  blest  the  traveller  not  forbid  to  stay 

In  such  sweet  bowers  the  scorching  summer  day ! 

How  fam'd  the  knight  whose  dauntless  arm  shall  bear 

To  great  Kaikhosroo's  court  a  Turkish  fuir ! 


4? 


October  17th.  Since  Friday,  the  14th,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  write.  On  Saturday  the  weather  was  threatening 
all  day,  with  heavy  thunder  and  lightning.  At  night  it 
freshened  to  a  severe  gale ;  which  lasted  for  many  hours, 
till  about  twelve  on  Sunday.  The  heat  of  our  closed  cabins 
was  very  oppressive.  It  was  God's  great  mercy  that  we 
were  well  prepared  by  the  previous  weather  for  the  weight 
of  the  gale,  or  the  ship  must  have  lost  her  masts.  She  rode 
through  it,  drifting  under  one  sail,  till  the  weather  began  to 
clear  off  a  little  on  Sunday  evening.  Every  body  was  either 
ill  or  worn  out  with  fatigue  the  whole  day.  I  staid  on  deck 
as  much  as  the  rain  would  allow  me,  to  avoid  the  suffoca- 
tion below.  On  Sunday  evening  we  were  able  to  assemble 
for  prayers  in  the  gun-room,  when  the  Bishop  returned 
thanks  for  our  preservation.  We  did  not  know  where  we 
had  drifted  ;  but,  as  we  were  in  soundings,  we  anchored 
for  the  night,  it  being  probable  we  had  neared  the  western 
shore.  To-day  we  have  seen  the  sun,  and  find  our  place 
better  than  we  expected.  The  weather  is  now  beautifully 
clear.  We  are  waiting  anxiously  for  a  pilot ;  and  we  are 
in  the  place  to  expect  them  ;  but  they  have  probably  been 
driven  from  their  stations  by  the  gale.  On  Saturday  the 
Bishop  was  engaged  in  writing  an  important  letter  (which 
I  copied  as  he  wrote)  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury — a 
general  report  of  his  diocese,  and  many  interesting  particu- 
lars of  his  present  visitation,  with  several  points  of  reference 
for  his  grace's  counsel  and  decision.  The  storm  has  inter- 
rupted him,  and  the  water  is  still  too  rough  to  write  without 
difficulty. 

October  18th.  We  have  been  cruizing  about  all  day  to 
find  a  pilot  vessel,  but  in  vain  ;  and,  in  our  present  situa- 
tion, it  is  not  safe  to  approach  the  sands  without  one.  Our 


48 


patience  was  very  nearly  exhausted  ;  but  we  have  ceased 
to  grumble  at  the  delay,  for  it  has  made  us  the  happy  in- 
struments of  saving  thirty-one  human  beings,  who  were 
tossing  about  in  a  little  boat  of  bulrushes,  their  vessel 
having  sunk  in  the  gale.  We  were  sitting  at  dinner  when 
they  were  descried,  and  the  delight  we  first  felt  in  supposing 
it  to  be  a  pilot-boat  was  soon  exchanged  for  the  liveliest 
interest  in  their  rescue.  You  can  easily  imagine  the  good 
Bishop's  eagerness  in  witnessing  and  promoting  all  the 
•  aptain's  benevolent  arrangements  for  their  comfort  and 
accommodation.  They  are  natives  of  the  Lacadive  Islands, 
trading  to  Calcutta  with  cocoa-nuts,  and  they  have  been 
i'our  days  without  more  than  a  little  sweetmeat  and  a  very 
scanty  allowance  of  water.  They  have  a  compass  which 
they  made  themselves,  an  English  sextant,  and  one  of  the 
old-fashioned  instruments  for  taking  altitudes,  called  Jacob's 
Staff,  which  they  prefer  to  the  other.  Their  observations 
are  sufficiently  accurate,  and  they  were  able  to  tell  us  pretty 
nearly  the  ship's  place.  We  took  them  all  on  board,  and, 
while  a  plentiful  meal  of  rice  was  boiling  for  them,  they 
stretched  themselves  on  the  deck,  and  in  ten  minutes  every 
one  was  fast  asleep.  One  or  two  of  them,  awakened  by 
some  slight  noise,  raised  themselves  on  their  arms  and  saw 
their  little  boat  drifting  away  from  us,  and  after  looking  at 
it  for  a  moment  with  a  painful  expression  of  regret,  sunk  to 
sleep  again.  It  was  a  real  luxury  to  the  Bishop,  and  in- 
deed to  all  the  party,  to  sit  by  their  several  happy  groups 
as  they  shared  their  meal,  and  then  to  see  them  enjoying 
ihe  ample  space  of  the  deck,  which  for  the  night  was  given 
up  to  them,  and  stretching  their  limbs,  which  had  been 
cramped  for  four  days  in  their  tiny  skiff.  Thank  God  we 
have  been  detained  for  so  good  a  purpose.  It  is  to  be 
feared  many  vessels  have  perished. 


4!> 


October  19tli.  At  length  we  have  found  a  pilot  vessel, 
and  this  evening,  after  prayers,  we  left  the  ship  Discovery, 
and  came  on  board.  We  shall  probably  arrive  earlier  by 
this  arrangement,  and  may  be  there  to-morrow  night,  or 
Friday,  though  the  wind  is  very  light.  This  unexpected 
delay  in  our  voyage  will  make  it  very  difficult  for  the  Bishop 
to  leave  Calcutta  again  before  the  end  of  January,  and  he. 
will  be  much  pressed  for  time  in  his  visitation  of  Madras. 
We  have  been  busy  with  the  map  all  this  morning,  trying 
to  arrange  it  according  to  the  seasons  of  the  year.  I  hope 
he  will  contrive  to  be  at  Quilon  in  the  hot  months,  when  it 
would  be  difficult  to  travel.  He  is  anxious  for  this  also  on 
account  of  the  Syrian  churches ;  for  he  would  then  have 
an  opportunity  of  cultivating  a  friendship  with  the  resident 
of  Travancore,  and  so  perhaps  gaining  for  the  poor  Chris- 
tians many  advantages.  In  the  next  general  visitation  he 
thinks  of  going  by  Nagpoor,  Mhow,  and  Poona,  to  Bom- 
bay, and  thence  by  Dapooly,  Sattara,  Bcejahpoor,  and 
Bangalore,  to  Madras. 

October  21st,  Calcutta.  We  landed  at  Chandpaul 
tihaut,  under  the  usual  salute.  The  Bishop  has  been  ab- 
sent from  home  a  year  and  four  months,  and  has  yet  only 
accomplished  the  first  part  of  his  laborious  visitation.  He 
has  in  that  time  traversed  Bengal,  Hindostan,  the  northern 
and  western  provinces  of  India,  and  the  Island  of  Ceylon  ; 
and  the  labours  and  perils  of  so  vast  a  range  are  sucb  as 
few  Christian  bishops  have  ever  been  called  to  encounter. 
And  yet  how  much  still  remains  !  Not  to  mention  the 
Eastern  Islands  and  New  South  Wales,  the  "  ultima  Thule" 
of  his  diocese,  there  are  several  stations  in  central  India 
l  and  the  whole  of  the  Peninsula,  so  full  of  interest  and  hope, 

E  2 


50 


and  where  the  labours  of  subordinate  ministers  have  pre- 
pared the  way  so  much  more  than  in  other  provinces,  for 
the  visit  of  their  chief  pastor.  Our  Bishop  rejoices  to  feel 
himself  once  more  at  home ;  but  he  has  only  two  months' 
repose  to  enjoy  before  his  labours  commence  again ;  and 
with  the  great  accumulation  of  business  during  his  absence, 
and  the  many  important  matters  that  are  waiting  his  de- 
cision here,  his  repose  will  rather  tend  to  exhaust  than  to 
recruit  his  strength.  I  shall  not  attempt  any  thing  like  a 
regular  journal  of  our  engagements  while  we  are  stationary, 
and  only  mention  circumstances  of  occasional  interest. 

November  1st.  I  find,  by  the  multiplicity  of  the  Bishop's  > 
engagements,  there  is  no  chance  of  our  getting  away  before 
the  beginning  of  February.  This  will  drive  our  journey 
through  the  south  into  the  hot  weather;  but  he  cannot  break 
through  earlier.  The  delay,  however,  will  enable  me,  I 
trust,  to  accomplish  the  one  great  object  of  my  own  journey 
— the  printing  of  my  Persian  Pentateuch. 

November  7th.  This  morning  Archdeacon  Corrie  and  I 
attended  the  Bishop  to  return  the  visit  of  Father  Abraham, 
the  Armenian  Bishop,*  from  Jerusalem.  We  were  received 

the  vicarage-house  attached  to  the  Armenian  church, 
and  attended  by  Mr.  Jacob,  an  intelligent  Armenian  mer- 
•  hant,  who  acted  as  interpreter.  Father  Abraham  is  rather 

*  It  appeared  afterwards  that  he  was  not  a  bishop,  but  a  vertapet,  or 
doctor  in  divinity,  sent  from  his  convent  on  Mount  Sion  by  the  Armenian 
Patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  with  the  powers  of  Episcopal  commissary,  to 
visit  the  churches  in  India.  The  diocese  of  India  is  under  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Isphahan,  in  the  patriarchate  of  Jerusalem,  and  is  superintended 
by  the  occasional  visits  of  these  itinerant  commissaries,  who,  after  a  few 
vears  spent  among  the  scattered  congregations  of  their  communion,  return 
t.o  their  superior  with  a  report  of  the  churches  and  the  contributions  of 
'he  fcithfu!. 


... 


below  tlic  middle  size,  with  a  handsome  beard  and  a  very 
pleasing  expression  of  countenance.  In  the  black  dress  of 
his  convent  he  is  a  striking  figure.  He  showed  us  a  hand- 
some copy  of  the  Four  Gospels,  five  hundred  years  old, 
bound  in  solid  silver,  and  ornamented  with  a  cross  of  gold. 
The  Bishop  has  invited  him  to  dinner  on  Saturday,  and 
engaged  him  to  breakfast  at  the  college  on  Thursday.  We 
afterwards  visited  the  two  resident  priests  of  the  Greek 
Church  :  our  Bishop  talks  modern  Greek,  and  writes  it  well. 

November  10th.  This  was  the  morning  fixed  for  tho 
Bishop  of  Jerusalem's  visit  to  the  college.  He  came  at- 
tended by  Ter  Joseph,  the  vicar  of  Calcutta,  and  Messrs. 
Jacob  and  Avdall :  the  latter,  a  native  of  Sheeraz,  is  well 
acquainted  with  English,  and  the  author  of  several  small 
works  in  our  language  :  he  is  now  preparing  to  print  at  our 
press  a  History  of  Armenia,  which  he  has  translated  into 
English,  from  the  original  of  Father  Michael  Chamich. 
Father  Abraham  was  very  much  interested  in  all  he  saw, 
particularly  the  library,  where  he  was  delighted  to  find  the 
works  of  Chrysostom  and  Eusebius,  both  of  whom  they 
hold  in  high  estimation.  We  read  and  interpreted  to  him 
the  inscription  on  Bishop  Middleton's  monument;  and  he 
was  much  struck  with  the  simplicity  and  beauty  of  the 
expression,  more  particularly  with  the  circumstance  that  it 
proceeded  from  his  own  pen.  These  instances  of  friendly 
intercourse  with  the  different  branches  of  the  Eastern 
Church  may  be  of  great  benefit. 

November  21st.  I  was  employed  all  day  in  putting  the 
Bishop's  library  in  order :  in  the  evening  we  drove  out 
together,  and  then  went  to  dine,  in  state,  with  Father 
Abraham  of  Jerusalem,  where  we  met  the  archdeacon. 
The  party  was  very  interesting,  and  the  Armenian  Bishop's 


52 


manners  are  excellent  at  his  own  table.  Every  thing  was 
in  European  style  ;  and,  after  the  first  course,  one  of  the 
deacons  in  waiting  sang  a  hymn ;  and  when  we  rose  from 
table,  as  when  we  sat  down,  Father  Abraham  said  grace 
himself.  Several  of  the  Greek  Church,  as  well  as  the 
Armenian,  were  present. 

November  22d.  I  have  finished  the  arrangement  of  the 
Bishop's  library,  which  is  rich  in  good  divinity,  fathers, 
and  foreign  literature.  St.  Andrew's  day  is  fixed  for  the 
ordination  of  deacons,  and  St.  Thomas's  for  the  priests.  I 
am  appointed  to  preach  the  sermon  the  first  day,  and 
Archdeacon  Corrie  the  second. 

November  27th,  Advent  Sunday.  This  has  been  a  great 
day  for  Calcutta,  on  which  was  preached  the  first  Episcopal 
missionary  sermon,  strictly  so  called.  The  Bishop  pleaded 
the  cause  of  the  incorporated  society — the  same  sermon 
as  in  Bombay.  It  could  not  fail  to  make  a  great  and  good 
impression  :  the  collection  seems  to  have  been  about  four 
thousand  sicca  rupees. 

November  30th.  This  morning  has  been  rendered  in- 
teresting by  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Bowley,  Mr.  Reichardt, 
and  Abdool  Messeeh :  the  last  a  most  venerable  person, 
the  first-fruits  of  the  Christian  priesthood  in  Hindostan* 
You  are  aware  that  they  had  all,  some  years  ago,  received 
Presbyterian  ordination  in  Calcutta.  Bishop  Heber  has 
been  anxious  (as  he  is  on  all  subjects)  to  ascertain  what 
had  been  the  feeling  of  his  predecessor  on  a  point  of  so 
much  delicacy ;  and  he  finds  that  Bishop  Middleton,  not 
having  power  at  that  time  to  ordain  them  himself,  expressed 
no  objection  to  the  measure  then  resorted  to,  as  a  temporary 
expedient,  in  consideration  of  the  exigencies  of  the  Church, 
and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  an  adequate  supply  of  regu- 


53 


Iarly  ordained  clergymen.  This  is  yideed  the  ground  oa 
which  the  venerable  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge has  acted  in  the  missions  in  the  south  of  India,  re- 
cognizing the  orders  of  a  sister  national  Church,  and  thank- 
fully employing,  as  its  missionaries,  those  who  had  received 
them,  till  our  own  Episcopacy  should  be  established  with 
full  powers  in  this  diocese  for  the  continuance  of  its  own 
ministry.  That  time  has  now  happily  arrived,  and  it  justly 
appears  to  the  Bishop  a  matter  of  no  trifling  importance, 
that  all  those  employed  by  the  societies  in  our  communion 
should  derive  their  commission  from  the  same  source,  and 
be  subject  to  the  same  paternal  authority.  I  send  you  an 
admirable  letter  ho  has  written  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmid, 
in  answer  to  tho  objections  he  urged  against  the  measure.* 
All  the  clergy  dined  with  the  Bishop  this  evening;  we 
were  nineteen  at  table — the  largest  number  of  clergy  ever 
present  at  one  time  in  India.  I  sat  by  Abdool  Messeeh, 
and  we  had  a  great  deal  of  talk  in  Persian,  as  he  speaks 
no  English.  After  the  usual  toasts  of  "  The  preacher  and 
his  sermon,"  and  "  The  newly  admitted  deacons,"  the 
Bishop  gave,  "  The  native  Church  at  Agra,  and  its  founder, 
Mr.  Corrie." 

December  12th.  We  had  a  meeting  this  morning  of  the 
Diocesan  Committee  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge,  at  the  Bishop's  house,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  a  transfer  of  the  mission  schools  belonging  to  them, 
to  the  new  Diocesan  Committee  of  the  Society  for  Propa- 
gating the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  conformity  with 
Bishop  Middleton's  original  intention,  and  the  Bishop  of 
Chester's  late  proposition. 


*  Vide  Append!*, 


o4 


December  13th.  j  have  been  examining  the  Calcutta 
Grammar  School  this  morning,  at  the  request  of  the  Bishop, 
who  is  the  visiter,  and  was  unahle  to  attend.  It  is  an 
institution  formed  three  years  ago  by  the  Indo-Briton 
population,  chiefly  for  their  own  class.  Greek  Testament, 
Virgil,  Ovid,  Paterculus,  the  first  book  of  Euclid,  arith- 
metic, geography,  were  our  subjects — and  one  or  two  of 
the  lads  showed  very  favourably  for  Calcutta.  I  distributed 
medals,  &c,  and  assured  them  I  would  report  favourably 
to  his  lordship,  of  the  state  of  their  school. 

December  18th,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  jail  before 
breakfast — the  only  place  where  one  wishes  for  a  small 
congregation :  only  twelve  persons.  The  morning  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  (even  after  preaching)  I  went  shivering 
to  Thomason's,  where  I  found  a  breakfast-table  spread 
before  a  good  blazing  fire. 

December  21st.  How  delightful  have  been  the  interest- 
ing solemnities  of  to-day!  Abdool  Messeeh  and  the  others 
who  were  before  admitted  deacons,  were  ordained  priests: 
Archdeacon  Corrie  preached  an  excellent  sermon,  in  which 
you  will  easily  imagine  his  feelings  almost  overcame  his 
utterance ;  for  they  were  all,  in  some  sense,  his  children. 
Mr.  Adlington,  a  young  missionary  whom  he  had  educated 
almost  entirely,  was  ordained  deacon  at  the  same  time. 
Poor  Abdool  Messeeh  has  been  ill  some  days,  and  was 
quite  overpowered  by  the  service ;  he  nearly  fainted  after 
the  act  of  ordination.  The  good  Bishop  went  through  the 
Hindostanee  part  ef  the  service  without  difficulty.  One  of 
the  most  interesting  solemnities  of  our  Church,  at  all  times, 
is  the  admission  of  new  candidates  to  the  sacred  office,  and 
the  pledge  so  solemnly  demanded  and  willingly  given, 
wbieh  separates  them  for  ever  from  the  secularises  of  the 


world  to  the  stewardship  of  God's  family.  But  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  this  country,  the  tried  and  well  known 
character  of  the  men  themselves,  and  the  bright  prospects 
of  futurity  which  opened  on  the  mind  even  from  this  early 
and  partial  dawn,  all  conspired  to  make  the  scene  before 
us  one  of  deeper  and  more  powerful  interest.  It  was  an 
awful  and  touching  moment,  when  the  Veni  Creator  was 
sung  by  the  congregation,  the  Bishop  reading  the  verses 
from  the  altar,  surrounded  by  twenty  of  his  clergy  kneeling 
in  their  surplices.  All  seemed  to  feel  the  beautiful  devotion 
of  this  heavenly  hymn,  and  to  join  with  one  heart  in  the 
sublime  invocation  of  the  ever-blessed  Spirit.  Who  can 
doubt  that  such  prayers  were  answered  ?  Father  Abraham 
was  present,  with  his  vicar,  during  the  whole  service.  He 
embraced  the  Bishop  at  the  door  of  the  vestry,  and  I 
attended  him  to  his  carriage,  where  he  and  Ter  Joseph 
embraced  me,  and  expressed  their  pleasure  at  thus  joining 
with  us,  and  their  sense  of  the  honour  with  which  they  had 
been  received. 

All  the  clergy  dined  with  the  Bishop  in  the  evening, 
where  I  had  the  pleasure  of  having  the  venerable  Abdool 
Messeeh  by  my  side.  He  speaks  Persian  with  perfect 
fluency,  and  much  greater  purity  than  most  of  the  learned 
Mussulmans  in  this  country.  He  has  great  urbanity  and 
courtesy  of  manners,  beautifully  and  harmoniously  blended 
with  the  gravity  which  becomes  his  advanced  age,  his 
fervent  piety,  and  his  sacred  office.  His  conversation  is 
varied  and  accomplished,  and  is  not  only  marked  by  the 
knowledge  of  the  world,  which  his  former  life  and  his 
missionary  labours  have  naturally  given  him,  but  adorned 
with  the  lighter  elegancies  of  the  Persian  classics,  and  en- 
riched with  the  rare  accompaniment  of  good  taste  and  judi- 


5t> 


oious  reflection.    Its  peculiar  charm,  however,  is  the  happy 
adaptation  of  the  exquisite  expressions  of  Saadi  and  Nizami, 
which  are  familiar  to  him,  to  the  purposes  of  Christian  feeling. 
This  happy  talent  has  made  him  very  acceptable  to  the 
more  educated  among  his  countrymen,  and  lie  is  a  welcome 
visiter  at  the  Court  of  Oude,  where  the  king  has  more  than 
once  engaged  him  in  conversation  on  the  subject  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  in  controversy  on  its  evidences  and  doctrines 
with  some  of  his  learned  Moollahs.    He  often  meets  with 
hard  names  and  angry  looks  from  the  more  bigotted  amongst 
them;  but  his  soft  answer  generally  turns  away  their  wrath, 
and,  while  they  hate  his  religion,  they  are  still  constrained 
to  admire  the  man.    He  drank  wine  with  me  at  dinner, 
but  it  was  only  to  avoid  the  rudeness  of  a  refusal;  and  he 
explained  to  me  afterwards,  that  he  very  seldom  touches 
it,  and  would  rather  abstain  from  what  might  lessen  his 
influence  among  the  Mahometans.    1  fear  he  carries  this 
abstinence  beyond  his  strength;  for  the  infirmities  of  age 
are  fast  growing  on  him,  and  he  requires  a  more  generous 
diet.    He  seemed  much  pleased  with  the  distinguished 
kindness  and  respect  the  Bishop  paid  him,  but  it  was  the 
pleasure  of  a  man  who  valued  the  distinction  for  the  sake 
of  him  who  conferred  it,  and  who  loved  the  praise  of  God 
more  than  the  praise  of  men. 

December  22d.  I  went  by  appointment  this  morning  to 
meet  the  Bishop  at  the  free  school,  to  assist  him  in  the 
annual  examination.  It  was  disheartening  to  see  so  many 
of  the  boys  repeating  their  lessons  like  parrots,  without 
understanding  a  single  word.  The  misfortune  is,  that  they 
never  use  our  language  at  home  or  at  play,  so  that  all  the 
instruction  they  get  is  confined  to  the  sound  of  words,  and 
to  writing.    The  best  cure  would  be  easy  dialogues  of  the 


57 


commonest  sort,  to  induce  them,  if  possible,  to  play  in  English, 
The  Bishop's  conversation  this  evening  was  remarkably 
brilliant  and  entertaining.  It  happened  to  turn  on  a  great 
variety  of  subjects,  and  displayed  the  richness  of  his  memory, 
and  his  playful  and  happy  fancy.  The  descriptions  he  gave 
us  of  the  meetings  in  Wales,  which  he  had  witnessed,  for 
competition  in  music  and  poetry,  was  very  interesting, 
particularly  tiie  rusticity  of  the  candidates  for  fame,  literally 
the  coarsest  and  humblest  persons.  He  was  present  on 
one  occasion  with  Lady  Harriet  Wynne,  who  declared 
herself  so  delighted  at  what  she  heard,  that  she  expressed 
her  intention  of  having  her  son,  then  lately  born,  educated 
in  Welsh  as  well  as  English.  The  Bishop  having  an- 
nounced this  for  -her,  the  company  received  it  with  glad 
applause,  and  a  peasant  in  blue  worsted  stockings,  who 
had  not  been  a  competitor  for  the  prize,  stepped  forth  and 
pronounced  some  beautiful  couplets  in  answer,  of  which 
something  like  this  is  the  substance — "  Strike  the  harp 
with  the  hand  of  joy,  for  two  messages  of  joy  are  brought 
to  us — that  our  chief  still  loves  his  people,  and  that  a  child 
is  born  to  his  house.  What  shall  I  prophecy  of  the  boy 
that  is  born?  Brave  of  heart  like  Cadwallon,  and  tuneful 
as  the  bards  of  old.  May  he  live,  and  may  his  hand  per- 
form the  deeds  of  Cadwallon,  and  his  harp  echo  the  strains 
of  Taliessin  !"  This  was  a  man  with  the  rough  manners 
and  coarse  dress  of  a  Welsh  peasant ! 

December  29th.  The  intercourse  so  happily  commenced 
with  the  Armenian  Church,  is  the  source  of  much  pleasure 
and  information  to  us,  and  may  be,  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  the  means  of  great  good  to  them.  With  theJr  many 
disadvantages,  a  scattered  and  oppressed  people,  they  still 
retain  much  knowledge  and  much  love  for  the  Gospel  of 

F 


58 


Christ.  Some  of  their  nation  have  joined  themselves  to 
the  Church  of  Rome,  and  are  of  course  looked  upon  by 
the  rest  as  having  betrayed  the  liberties  and  independence 
of  their  own.  Those  Romish  Armenians  have  a  convent 
at  Venice  (of  St.  Lazarus,)  where  they  have  printed  some 
very  useful  works ;  but  many  of  them,  particularly  their 
creeds  and  liturgies,  have  been  perfidiously  altered,  to  make 
them  coincide  with  the  Latin  Church.  The  original  Ar- 
menians are  orthodox  in  all  the  essential  doctrines,  such  as 
the  fall  of  man,  the  proper  deity  and  atonement  of  Christ, 
and  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  In  the  doctrine  of  the 
incarnation  they  are  Jacobites,  and  they  seem  clearly  to 
hold  the  doctrine  of  transubstantiation.  I  hope  soon  to 
possess  their  offices.  The  liturgy  they  use  is  that  of  St. 
Chrysostom  (not  St.  Basil,)  witli  some  few  prayers  added 
by  different  bishops.  Father  Abraham  told  me  this  morn- 
ing, he  had  heard  the  whole  of  our  ordination  service 
interpreted  to  him,  and  he  found  many  parts  exactly  the 
same  as  theirs.  We  had  much  talk  about  the  usurpation 
of  the  Church  of  Rome,  of  Christian  fellowship  and  unity* 
On  all  these  points  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  sound 
judgment  displayed  by  them,  and  their  ready  quotation  of 
the  sacred  Scriptures,  with  which  they  are  familiar:  I  was 
particularly  struck  in  this  respect  with  one  of  the  young 
deacons,  Mesrop  David.  They  have  seen  Abdool  Messeeh 
several  times  since  his  ordination,  and  are  much  pleased 
with  his  goodness  and  piety.  This  intercourse  is  valuable 
to  both  parties — to  them,  in  showing  them  what  is  doing  for 
the  extension  of  Christianity  (for  they  have  as  yet  had  no 
missionary  zeal  in  their  Church,)  and  to  him,  in  introducing 
him  to  the  ancient  established  churches  of  the  East,  whose 
existence  and  character  have  been  hitherto  almost  unknown 


69 


(o  him.  Here  is  also  one  good  fruit  of  his  Episcopal  ordi- 
nation— the  full  recognition  of  his  sacred  character,  and 
the  proportional  increase  of  his  influence.  Mr.  Jacoh  told 
me  to-day  the  pleasure  he  had  enjoyed  on  the  evening  the 
venerable  man  lately  passed  at  his  house.  They  had 
invited  a  Mussulman  physician  of  considerable  learning  to 
meet  him,  and  had  been  delighted  with  the  soundness  of 
argument  by  which  he  had  refuted  his  cavils  against  Chris- 
tianity, the  gentleness  with  which  he  used  his  victory,  and 
the  earnest  solemnity  of  manner  with  which  he  improved 
it.  He  afterwards  expounded,  in  Hindostanee,  a  chapter 
of  the  Gospel,  and  led  the  evening  devotions  of  the  family. 
I  read  over  to  Father  Abraham  our  Bishop's  letter  to  the 
Syrian  Metropolitan  in  Malabar.  He  was  exceedingly 
delighted  with  it.  "  It  is  apostolic,"  said  he  ;  "  it  is  like 
one  of  St.  Paul's."  They  have  invited  us  to  attend  their 
service  on  Christmas-day,  which,  in  their  calendar,  falls 
on  the  18th  of  January.  Their  service  on  that  feast  com- 
mences at  mid-night,  and  concludes  with  the  communion 
at  day-break. 

January  2d.  Father  Abraham  has  a  letter  from  the 
Syrian  Patriarch  of  Jerusalem  to  the  Church  of  Malabar, 
and,  as  he  is  not  likely  to  deliver  it  in  person,  he  has 
requested  that  it  may  be  enclosed  with  the  Bishop's,  in  the 
same  packet ;  and  he  has  been  reading  to  me  a  letter  he 
has  just  written  himself  to  Mar  Athanasius,  to  send  with 
it.*  It  expresses  the  pleasure  he  has  had  in  hearing  of 
the  state  of  his  churches,  and  his  joy  at  the  extension  of 
Christ's  kingdom  in  India,  so  much  greater  than  he  ex- 
pected to  find,  and  which  he  attributes  greatly  to  the  influ- 
ence of  the  zeal  and  exertions  of  their  brother  Reginald. 


*  Vide  Appendix. 


00 


the  English  Bishop:  he  warns  him  of  the  subtlety  and 
wickedness  of  the  Romish  Church,  and  implores  him  to 
look  well  to  his  flock,  seeing  all  were  purchased  by  the 
blood  of  Christ.  It  breathes,  in  short,  the  true  spirit  of 
Christianity,  and  is  a  valuable  document,  as  exhibiting, 
not  merely  his  own  feelings,  but  those  also  of  his  Church 
and  nation,  who,  while  their  services  retain  many  of  the 
corruptions  of  a  darker  age,  still  cultivate  an  unfeigned 
love  and  extensive  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  are 
free  from  ecclesiastical  tyranny  and  ambition. 

January  7th.  I  attended  the  Bishop  in  his  visit  to 
Chinsurah,  where  we  arrived  after  an  early  breakfast  and 
a  pleasant  sail  of  six  hours.  This  station,  some  little  time 
ago,  was  transferred  by  the  Dutch  government  to  the 
English,  and  the  inhabitants  received,  without  reluctance, 
the  ministry  and  services  of  the  Church  of  England.  Miv 
Morton,  one  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  resides  here,  and  performs 
divine  service  in  English,  in  the  small  but  handsome 
church  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  We  were  hospitably 
received  at  his  house,  where  Mr.  Overbeck,  the  late 
governor  of  the  settlement,  and  several  others,  were  invited 
to  meet  the  Bishop  at  tea  in  the  evening.  His  lordship 
was  much  pleased  to  observe  the  good  feeling  that  appeared 
to  subsist,  without  any  undue  compromise  of  principle, 
between  Mr.  Morton  and  two  missionaries  of  other  com- 
munions who  joined  our  party,  Mr.  Mundy,  of  the  London 
Society,  and  Mr.  La  Croix,  from  the  Netherlands.  The 
Bishop's  kindness  tended  much  to  strengthen  this;  and, 
even  if  it  had  not  been  the  case  before,  it  might  naturally 
have  followed,  from  the  common  feeling  of  love  and  henour 
with  which  all  regard  him. 


61 

January  3th,  Sunday.  The  Bishop  preached  both 
morning  and  evening;  Mr.  Mundy,  the  dissenting  minister, 
gave  up  his  own  service  in  the  morning,  and  came  himself 
to  church  with  all  his  people.  Mr.  Morton  is  evidently 
much  respected,  and  his  plan  of  conciliation  is  diminishing, 
at  all  events,  the  evil  of  dissent.  He  is  employed  in  pre- 
paring a  Bengallee  dictionary,  which  has  long  been  a 
desideratum.  I  cannot  learn  that  he  has  any  converts 
from  heathenism. 

January  9th,  Chinsurah.  We  went  early  this  morning 
to  look  at  a  large  old  house,  about  a  mile  from  the  church, 
which  government  has  given  up  to  the  Bishop,  for  the 
residence  of  the  clergyman.  It  has  been  a  noble  house, 
but  is  miserably  out  of  repair,  and  the  grounds  a  perfect 
wilderness.  The  Bishop  hopes  that  3000  rupees  may 
perhaps  make  it  suitable  for  a  purpose,  which,  with  his 
usual  fertility  of  resources,  he  has  been  devising  for  it.* 

January  14th.  The  Bishop  was  attacked  three  days 
ago  with  a  violent  fever ;  and,  almost  immediately  after,  I 
was  seized  myself.  Thank  God,  he  is  now  much  better. 
I  suspect  we  both  owe  our  illness  to  the  same  cause — wan- 
dering through  the  wet  grass  about  that  old  house  at  Chin- 
surah on  Monday  morning,  and  standing  some  time  in  the 
damp  rooms  under  the  house.  This  morning  the  arch- 
deacon and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  breakfasted  at  the  palace. 
Mrs.  Heber  is  a  very  active  friend  to  the  new  system  of 
female  education,  and  has  been  successful,  during  our  late 
journey,  in  procuring  large  additions  to  its  funds.  These, 
together  with  a  princely  donation  of  20,000  rupees  from  a 

*  The  estimate  afterwards  given  was  so  enormous  that  the  Bishop's 
-plans  fell  to  the  ground. 

F2 


62 


rich  native  here,*  emboldens  them  to  buy  land  and  build  a 
central  school  without  delay.  The  Bishop  was  busy  in 
drawing  plans  for  the  building.  The  rest  of  the  morning  I 
spent  with  him,  despatching  forty-two  letters  to  different 
mofussil  stations,  desiring  the  clergy  to  preach  in  aid  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and  so- 
liciting the  patronage  of  the  principal  persons  among  the 
laity. 

January  2Gth.  The  Bishop  tells  me  a  circumstance 
which,  as  connected  with  Father  Abraham's  expressions  in 
my  last  interview  with  him,  and  in  its  possible  results,  is 
very  interesting.  A  proposal  is  made  by  Mr.  Avdall  (who 
is  now  engaged  in  an  English  History  of  Armenia)  to 
translate  our  liturgy  into  their  language.  Some  encou- 
ragement is  necessary  for  him — either  supporting  him  dur- 
ing the  time,  or  securing  him  from  loss,  by  taking  a  certain 
number  of  copies.  His  lordship  intends  to  recommend  it 
to  the  patronage  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge. 

January  28th.  The  government  have  secured  accom- 
modations for  us  on  the  Bussorah  Merchant,  which  is 
moving  slowly  down  the  river.  The  uncertainty  as  to  the 
actual  time  of  sailing  is  harassing  and  painful  both  to  the 
Bishop  and  his  family,  and  he  has  therefore  determined  to 
]oin  the  ship  at  all  events  on  Monday  morning,  securing 
to-morrow  a  quiet  Sunday  at  home. 

Our  whole  population  is  thrown  into  great  joy  by  the 
news  just  arrived,  of  the  fall  of  Bhurtpore  :  Lord  Comber- 
mere  took  it  by  storm  on  the  18th  instant.  The  attack 
was  most  triumphant,  though  it  is  the  strongest  place  in 


*  Rajah  Budinath  Roy. 


India.    We  had  30,000  men  before  it  and  150  pieces  of 
artillery :  our  loss  is  very  considerable.    The  storm  has 
covered  Lord  Combermere  with  glory;  and  his  merciful 
as  well  as  soldier-like  conduct  greatly  endears  him  to  the 
army.    The  Bishop,  who  has  watched  with  lively  interest 
the  progress  of  the  siege,  from  his  connexion  with  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, and  his  personal  regard  for  him,  rejoices 
greatly  in  this  splendid  termination  of  his  first  Indian  cam- 
paign, and  dwells  with  great  delight  on  the  noble  forbear- 
ance he  has  shown,  not  only  to  the  inhabitants  in  the  pro- 
gress of  hostilities,  but  in  the  determination  which  he 
avowed  to  him  before  he  left  Calcutta,  of  rather  protract- 
ing an  affair,  which  an  instant  attack  might  have  rendered 
more  brilliant  for  himself,  in  order  to  prevent  the  greater 
waste  of  human  life.    One  of  his  lordship's  arrangements  I 
cannot  help  mentioning  to  you,  because  the  Bishop  fre- 
quently notices  it,  and  as  it  is  evidently  so  exactly  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  own  generous  nature :   several  small 
parties  were  posted  at  different  points  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  city,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  flight  of  the  defenceless 
inhabitants,  and  secure  them  from  injury  and  insult.  While 
the  necessary  evils  of  war  are  mitigated  by  such  provisions 
as  these,  the  better  part  of  chivalry  still  survives. 

January  30th.  We  left  Calcutta  this  morning  in  a  go- 
vernment bheauliau,  which  was  waiting  to  carry  us  down 
to  the  ship,  but  only  reached  the  inn  at  this  place — Fultat 
a  little  above  Diamond  Harbour.  At  sun-set  we  had  a 
delightful  stroll  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  when  the 
Bishop  repeated  to  me  these  beautiful  lines,  which  he  wrote 
when  going  up  the  river  on  his  northern  journey  : — 


64 


An  Evening  Walk  in  Beng 

Our  task  is  done !  on  Gunga's  breast 
The  sun  is  sinking  down  to  rest; 
And,  moored  beneath  the  tamarind  bough 
Our  bark  has  found  its  harbour  now. 
With  furled  sail  and  painted  side, 
Behold  the  tiny  frigate  ride. 
Upon  her  deck,  'mid  charcoal  gleams, 
The  Moslems'  savoury  supper  steams, 
While  all  apart,  beneath  the  wood, 
The  Hindoo  cooks  his  simpler  food. 
Come  walk  with  me  the  jungle  through ; 
If  yonder  hunter  told  us  true, 
Far  off,  in  desert  dank  and  rude, 
The  tyger  holds  his  solitude ; 
Nor  (taught  by  recent  harm  to  shun 
The  thunders  of  the  English  gun,) 
A  dreadful  guest,  but  rarely  seen, 
Returns  to  scare  the  village  green. 
Come  boldly  on  ;  no  venomed  snake 
Can  shelter  in  so  cool  a  brake. 
Child  of  the  sun,  he  loves  to  lie 
'Mid  nature's  embers,  parched  and  dry, 
Where  o'er  some  tower  in  ruin  laid, 
The  peepul  spreads  its  haunted  shade : 
Or  round  a  tomb  his  scales  to  wreathe, 
Fit  warder  in  the  gate  of  death ! 
Come  on !  yet  pause  !  behold  us  now 
Beneath  the  bamboo's  arched  bough, 
Where,  gemming  oft  that  sacred  gloom, 
Glows  the  geranium's  scarlet  bloom, 
And  winds  our  path  through  many  a  bow 
Of  fragrant  tree  and  giant  flower; 
The  ceiba's  crimson  pomp  displayed 
O'er  the  broad  plantain's  humbler  shade 
\n&  dusk  anana's  prickly  blade ; 
While  o'er  the  brake,  so  wild  and  fair, 
The  betel  waves  his  crest  in  air. 


65 


With  pendant  train  and  rushing  wings, 

Aloft  the  gorgeous  peacock  springs; 

And  he,  the  bird  of  hundred  dyes, 

Whose  plumes  the  dames  of  Ava  prize 

So  rich  a  shade,  so  green  a  sod, 

Our  English  fairies  never  trod ! 

Yet  who  in  Indian  bower  has  stood, 

But  thought  on  England's  "  good  green  wood  T 

And  hless'd,  beneath  the  palmy  shade, 

Her  hazel  and  her  hawthorn  glade, 

And  breathed  a  prayer  (how  oft  in  vain  () 

To  gaze  upon  her  oaks  again  ? 

A  trace  to  thought !  the  jackall's  cry 

Resounds  like  sylvan  revelry ; 

And  through  the  trees,  yon  failing  ray 

Will  scantly  serve  to  guide  our  way. 

Yet  mark !  as  fade  the  upper  skies, 

Each  thicket  opes  ten  thousand  eyes. 

Before,  beside  us,  and  above, 

The  fire-fly  lights  his  lamp  of  love, 

Retreating,  chasing,  sinking,  soaring, 

The  darkness  of  the  copse  exploring ; 

While  to  this  cooler  air  confest, 

The  broad  dhatura  bares  her  breast 

Of  fragrant  scent  and  virgin  white, 

A  pear!  around  the  locks  of  night ! 

Still  as  we  pass  in  softened  hum,  \ 

Along  the  breezy  alleys  come  \ 

The  village  song,  the  horn,  the  drum.  ' 

Still  as  we  pass,  from  bush  and  briar, 

The  shrill  Cigala  strikes  his  lyre ; 

And  what  is  she  whose  liquid  strain 

Thrills  through  yon  copse  of  sugar-cane  ? 

I  know  that  soul-entrancing  swell ! 

It  is  it  must  be  Philomel ! 

Enough,  enough,  the  rustling  trees 
Announce  a  shower  upon  the  breeze, — 


6G 


The  flashes  of  the  summer  sky  • 
Assume  a  deeper,  ruddier  dye ; 
Yon  lamp  that  trembles  on  the  stream, 
From  forth  our  cabin  sheds  its  beam ; 
And  we  mnst  early  sleep,  to  find 
Betimes  the  morning's  healthy  wind. 
But  oh  !  with  thankful  hearts  confess, 
Even  here  there  may  be  happiness; 
And  He,  the  bounteous  Sire,  has  given 
His  peace  on  earth  His  hope  of  heaven  ! 

January  31st.  The  Bishop  has  one  of  his  travelling 
drawers  filled  with  a  small  selection  of  books  for  the  jour- 
ney ;  and  it  is  an  unusual  luxury  to  him,  after  his  perpetual 
engagements  of  business,  to  have  a  few  quiet  hours  of  un- 
interrupted reading.  One  of  his  books  is  Milner's  Church 
History,  which  he  has  brought  with  the  intention  of  making 
some  selections  from  it  for  the  Ceylon  missionaries  to  trans- 
late into  Cingalese.  I  never  knew  any  one  read  so  rapidly : 
he  has  got  through  two  volumes  in  the  course  of  yesterday 
and  to-day,  besides  several  letters  and  a  variety  of  other 
avocations.  We  went  down  to  the  ship  after  breakfast  this 
morning,  but  finding  her  still  on  this  side  the  sands  "  James 
and  Mary"  and  with  no  chance  of  getting  lower  to-day, 
we  put  our  cabins  in  order,  and  returned  here  to  dinner. 
The'  Bishop  is  much  indisposed  this  evening,  and  I  am 
anxious  to  be  within  reach  of  medical  aid. 

February  1st.  Dr.  Marshman,  of  Scrampore,  break- 
fasted with  us  on  his  way  to  the  ship,  on  which  he  is  em- 
barking for  England.  I  am  engaged  in  preparing  an 
abridgment  of  the  History  of  the  Syrian  Churches  in  Tra- 
vancorc,*  from  the  time  at  which  La  Croze  breaks  off:  it 


*  Vide  Appendix. 


67 


will  be  useful  to  his  lordship,  in  his  personal  intercourse 
with  them  on  his  approaching  visit.  In  the  evening  our 
conversation  happened  to  turn  on  the  state  of  the  Norwe- 
gian clergy.  He  describes  them  as  orderly  and  well  in- 
formed ;  many  of  them  men  of  learning  and  piety.  There 
are  four  bishops  in  Norway  and  one  in  Iceland,  and  they 
preach  frequently.  They  wear  the  mitre  as  well  as  the 
rochet — and  the  sleeves  (as  indeed  throughout  all  the 
churches  on  the  continent)  not  so  exuberantly  full  as  ours. 
The  prayers  are  read  by  the  priest  turning  to  the  altar, 
and  the  people  are  generally  very  inattentive :  the  lower 
orders  go  to  church,  but  scarcely  any  of  the  better  sort. 
This  change  from  their  former  habits  he  justly  attributes  to 
the  influence  of  the  manners  of  revolutionized  France,  the 
common  poison  of  Europe. 

February  2d,  Ship  Bussorah  Merchant.  We  joinei 
the  ship  this  morning — I  fear,  with  the  prospect  of  a  long 
voyage  to  Madras.  However,  nothing  could  be  better  than 
the  relaxation  thus  afforded  the  Bishop  to  recruit  his 
strength,  before  he  plunges  into  the  business  of  the  most 
important  part  of  his  diocese.  I  look  forward  myself  with 
great  pleasure  to  the  time  we  are  likely  to  spend  at  se», 
not  only  for  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  me  for  gaining 
information  on  the  great  objects  of  the  journey,  but  chiefly 
for  the  happiness  of  unrestrained  and  constant  intercourse 
with  his  lordship.  We  have  delightful  accommodations  ;  he 
Las  half  the  round-house,  and  my  cabin  adjoins  his.  He  is 
recovering  rapidly  under  his  doctor's  hands,  and,  though  I 
feel  very  nervous  at  having  such  a  charge,  he  says  he  has 
no  inclination  to  change  his  attendant. 

February  3d.  Our  progress  is  very  slow  down  the  river, 
hut  it  enables  us  to  get  acquainted  with  the  passengers,  and 


03 


arrange  every  thing  with  greater  comfort  before  the  voyage 
begins.  The  Bishop  came  into  my  cabin  after  breakfast, 
and  said  he  found  that,  besides  the  European  crew,  there 
was  a  detachment  of  invalid  soldiers  on  board,  returning 
to  England,  probably  in  a  very  ignorant  and  demoralized 
state,  after  their  long  residence  in  this  country,  and  that  he 
thought  we  might  be  exceedingly  useful  to  them  in  the 
course  of  the  voyage.  He  proposed,  therefore,  that  we 
should  go  down  alternately  every  morning  to  instruct  them 
and  pray  with  them.  I  begged  him  not  to  interrupt  his 
own  more  important  avocations  for  these  lower  duties, 
which  I  would  gladly  undertake  alone,  if  he  would  commis- 
sion me  to  do  so ;  but  he  would  by  no  means  consent  to 
relinquish  his  share  in  them.  "  I  have  too  little,"  said  he, 
M  in  my  situation,  of  these  pastoral  duties,  which  are  so 
useful  to  the  minister  as  well  as  to  his  people ;  and  I  am 
delighted  at  the  opportunity  thus  unexpectedly  afforded  me  : 
— it  will  remind  me  of  dear  Hodnet.  Besides,  it  is  very 
possible  that  the  mere  circumstance  of  my  going  down  may 
impress  them  more  strongly,  and  incline  them  more  to  listen 
to  us  both."  He  had  his  prayer  book  in  his  hand,  and, 
after  speaking  to  the  commanding  officer,  went  below  im- 
mediately. Is  not  this  worthy  of  a  Bishop  ?  What  inex- 
pressible dignity  do  such  simple  labours  add  to  his  high  and 
sacred  office  !  We  had  family  prayers  in  the  cuddy  after 
tea,  which  will  be  continued  during  the  voyage.  I  need 
not  tell  you  that  all  the  passengers  gladly  assented  to  the 
proposal.  What  is  there  that  he  could  ask  them,  that  they 
would  not  assent  to  1  for  all  are  delighted,  even  on  this 
short  acquaintance,  with  the  life  and  variety  of  his  conver- 
sation, and  the  gentleness  of  his  manners. 

February  4ih.   On  going  down  to  the  poor  soldiers  this 


69 

morning,  I  found  the  effect  of  the  Bishop's  visit  yesterday 
to  be  just  what  might  have  been  expected.  His  kindness 
and  condescension  have  prepared  them  to  receive  with 
thankfulness  all  that  is  said  to  them;  and,  before  I  began 
to  read,  they  could  not  help  saying,  as  they  collected  round 
me,  "  Only  think  of  such  a  great  man  as  the  Bishop  com- 
ing between  decks  to  pray  with  such  poor  fellows  as  we 
are !"  Who  can  tell  what  good  may  result  from  these 
humble  efforts  1 — greater  perhaps  than  from  his  more  public 
and  splendid  labours,  which  are  followed  by  the  admiration 
of  the  world.  These  are  unseen  and  unknown  ; — for  who 
would  expect  to  find  the  Bishop  of  India,  the  accomplished 
Ueber,  praying  by  the  cots  of  a  few  disabled  soldiers,  be- 
tween the  decks  of  a  merchant  vessel? — but  his  Father 
which  seeth  in  secret,  himself  shall  reward  him  openly. 

A  letter  which  has  just  reached  the  Bishop  from  Calcutta, 
contains  accounts  of  the  violence  of  the  Syrian  Metropolitan 
in  Malabar,  and  the  mischief  that  is  apprehended  to  our 
mission  there,  if  our  Bishop  supports  his  claims.  We  have 
had  much  conversation  on  the  subject ;  and  while  he  de- 
plores the  personal  character  of  the  foreign  prelate,  which 
may  be  correctly  stated,  he  feels  strongly  the  importance  of 
recognising  the  commission  he  bears,  and  distinguishing  the 
office  from  the  man.  He  disapproves  the  policy  which 
would  seek  to  separate  them  from  Antioch,  in  order  to 
effect  a  reform  amongst  them  ;  for  the  truth  is,  that  their 
existence  thus  long  as  an  entire  Church  in  the  midst  of  a 
heathen  land,  with  the  observance  of  primitive  discipline 
and  order — their  self-respect,  and  the  high  place  they  have 
retained  in  the  opinion  of  their  heathen  neighbours,  have 
all  been  greatly  owing  to  their  dependence  on  Antioch,  and 
the  occasional  renewal  of  their  intercourse  with  the  parent 

G 


50 


see.  Evon  it"  we  could  succeed  in  breaking  that  depen- 
dence, while  their  condition  renders  a  union  with  us  im- 
possible, we  should  very  materially  endanger  their  ecclesi- 
astical character,  which  it  is  so  important  to  preserve : 
but,  with  their  present  feelings  of  entire  veneration  for  the 
patriarchate  of  which  they  are  a  branch,  such  a  disruption 
is  utterly  impracticable ;  and,  if  we  attempt,  we  lose  all 
hold  on  their  affections.  With  this  view  the  Bishop  is 
anxious  so  to  arrange  his  journey  as  to  pass  as  much  time 
as  he  can  spare  with  them  in  Malabar,  and  he  feels  assured 
that  his  intercourse  with  Mar  Athanasius  in  Bombay,  will 
be  the  very  means  of  giving  him  great  influence  as  a  peace- 
maker. 

We  walked  on  the  deck  this  evening,  admiring  the  last 
glories  of  a  most  splendid  sunset,  and  the  iirst  reflection  of 
the  moon-beams  on  the  rippling  waters — when  the  Bishop, 
as  he  leaned  over  the  side  of  the  ship,  repeated  to  me  these 
exquisite  lines,  which  he  has  inserted  in  his  volume  of 
hymns,  and  which  are  worthy  to  be  written  in  letters  of 
gold  : 

I  prais'd  the  Earth,  in  beauty  seen, 
With  garlands  gay  of  various  green ; 
I  prais'd  the  Sea,  whose  ample  field 
Shone  glorious  as  a  silver  shield : — 
And  Earth  and  Ocean  seem'd  to  say, 
"  Our  beauties  are  but  for  a  day !:' 

I  prais'd  the  Sun,  whose  chariot  roll'd 
On  wheels  of  amber  and  of  gold ; 
I  prais'd  the  Moon,  whose  softer  eye 
Gleamed  sweetly  through  the  summer  sl;y  ' 
And  Moon  and  Sun  in  answer  said, 
"  Our  days  of  light  are  numbered!" 


71 


O  God !  O  Hood  beyond  compare  ! 

If  thus  Thy  meaner  works  are  fair, 

If  thus  Thy  bounties  gild  the  spaa 

Of  ruin'd  earth  and  fiuful  man, 

How  glorious  must  the  mansion  be 

Where  Thy  redeem'd  shall  dwell  with  Thee  ! 

February  5th,  Sunday.  The  pilot  left  us  at  midday, 
and  the  ship  was  in  too  much  confusion  to  have  service  on 
deck  in  the  morning:  the  Bishop  preached  to  the  men 
below.  This  evening  we  had  prayers  in  the  cuddy,  the 
whole  crew  standing  on  the  outside,  and  the  Bishop  preach- 
ed an  excellent  plain  sermon  on  "  the  parable  of  the 
sower." 

February  6th.  I  was  sitting  reading  in  my  cabin  this 
morning,  when  the  Bishop  came  in  and  showed  me  an  in- 
teresting letter  he  has  lately  received,  and  which  has  much 
affected  him,  giving  him  an  account  of  the  last  hours  of  a 
friend  of  his,  of  high  genius  and  talent,  who,  for  twenty 
years,  from  the  time  when  he  first  entered  the  Church,  has 
been  laid  by  from  all  public  duty  by  asthma,  and  thus  con- 
fined almost  entirely  to  the  bosom  of  his  own  family.  By 
this  painful  and  (as  he  himself  thought)  necessary  discipline 
his  spirit  was  purified,  and  prepared  for  heaven.  The 
Bishop  says  he  was  often  struck  with  the  strong  influence 
of  religion  which  his  example  and  conversation  diffused 
through  every  branch  of  the  noble  family  to  which  he  be- 
longed. I  wont  down  and  preached  to  the  men  as  usual 
this  morning,  and  one  of  them,  who  had  been  in  hospital 
at  Meerut,  when  the  Bishop  was  there  last  year,  requested 
me  to  ask  his  lordship  to  confirm  him,  if  it  could  be  done 
on  board.  He  seems  a  well  disposed  man,  and  the  Bishop 
has  consented  to  do  it  on  Sunday  next,  if  he  finds  him  pre- 


72 


pared.  It  will  probably  be  the  first  time  the  ordinance  was. 
rver  administered  in  a  ship. 

The  Bishop  is  busily  employed  re-writing  his  charge 
for  Madras.  After  delivering  it  there,  it  will  be  printed  ; 
but  not  till  he  has  gone  through  the  South,  and  is  able  to 
speak  of  the  success  of  missionary  labours  from  his  own 
knowledge.  He  means  to  add  notes,  containing  much  va- 
luable information  of  that  kind,  and  which,  from  him,  will 
come  with  weight  and  authority.  He  asked  me  to-night 
if  I  thought  he  ought  to  publish  as  much  as  he  had  written 
in  answer  to  the  Abb6  Dubois.  I  told  him,  certainly  ;  that 
i  he  Abbe's  work  had  done  much  harm  in  a  large  circle,  and 
that,  though  others  had  answered  him,  a  "  blow  from  his 
great  hammer"  was  still  wanted.  He  was  kind  enough  to 
say  he  would  show  me  the  manuscript  before  it  went  to 
the  press.  He  says  the  report  given  of  it  in  the  Calcutta 
papers  was  so  accurately  and  well  done,  that  his  friends 
concluded  at  home  he  had  already  published  it,  and  quar- 
relled with  him  for  not  sending  them  copies — and  that  he 
had  been  much  affected  by  the  last  letter  which  he  had 
received  from  his  aged  mother,  who,  on  reading  the  ex- 
tracts in  tfie  newspapers,  writes  to  him  that  she  understands 
the  tenderness  of  his  motives  in  not  sending  her  a  copy, 
lest  he  should  alarm  her  fears  by  his  mention  of  the  climate 
as  one  "  where  labour  is  often  death." 

February  11th.  This  has  been  a  day  of  great  sorrow 
on  board  to  a  poor  mother  who  is  mourning  over  her  infant 
child,  and  a  scene  of  instruction  to  us  all.  The  lady  in  the 
opposite  cabin  to  mine,  in  very  weak  health  herself,  is 
going  to  England,  taking  with  her  a  sickly  infant  of  two 
months  old,  and  leaving  her  husband  in  Calcutta.  It  was 
seized  with  convulsions  this  morning,  and  after  lingering 


73 


through  the  day,  has  just  breathed  its  last  sigh.  The  Bishop 
has  been  repeatedly  in  the  cabin,  comforting  and  praying 
with  her;  and  in  the  intervals  I  hear  him  weeping  and 
praying  for  her  in  his  own.  I  have  never  seen  such  ten- 
derness, never  such  humble  exercise  of  Christian  love. 
Alas  !  how  his  spirit  shames  us  all !  I  thank  God  that  I 
have  seen  his  tears,  that  I  have  heard  his  prayers,  his  con- 
versation with  the  afflicted  mother,  and  his  own  private 
reflections  on  it.  It  has  made  me  love  him  more,  and  has 
given  me  a  lesson  of  tenderness  in  visiting  the  afflicted  that. 
I  trust  will  not  be  in  vain.  I  did  not  do  him  justice.  I 
did  not  think  he  was  more  fitted  (as  he  really  is)  for  the 
sick-room  and  the  dying  bed,  than  the  crowded  audience 
and  the  theatre  of  the  world. 

February  12th.  We  committed  the  poor  baby's  body 
to  the  deep  at  sunrise,  and  the  Bishop  read  the  service 
himself.  The  afflicted  mother  is  very  ill,  and  seems  very 
grateful  for  his  kind  attentions.  It  is  a  solemn  service ; 
but  how  full  of  peace  is  the  death  of  a  little  innocent !  and 
what  unspeakable  consolation  to  a  parent's  heart,  that  there 
is  no  shade  of  doubt  as  to  its  eternal  state — that  "  of  such 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven !"  We  had  prayers  on  deck  as 
usual,  and  the  Bishop  preached  on  the  good  Shepherd.  I 
spent  two  hours  in  his  cabin,  after  the  service,  in  very  in- 
teresting conversation  on  the  subject  of  angels,  and  the 
several  emblematic  visions  of  St.  John,  Ezekiel,  and  Isaiah- 
This  evening  he  has  spent  chiefly  in  the  cabin  of  the  poor 
bereaved  mother ;  and,  while  she  was  bitterly  lamenting 
her  loss,  instead  of  checking  her  expressions  of  impatience, 
and  prescribing  to  her  the  duty  of  submission,  he  told  her 
the  following  beautiful  apologue,  as  one  with  which  he  had 
himself  been  much  affected  : — "  A  shepherd  was  mourning 


74 


over  the  death  of  his  favourite  child,  and  in  the  passionate 
and  rebellious  feeling  of  his  heart  was  bitterly  complaining 
that  what  he  loved  most  tenderly,  and  was  in  itself  most 
lovely,  had  been  taken  from  him.  Suddenly  a.stranger,  of 
grave  and  venerable  appearance,  stood  before  him,  and 
beckoned  him  forth  into  the  field.  It  was  night,  and  not  a 
word  was  spoken  till  they  arrived  at  the  fold,  when  the 
stranger  thus  addressed  him  : — '  When  you  select  one  of 
these  lambs  from  the  flock,  you  choose  the  best  and  most 
beautiful  among  them.  Why  should  you  murmur  because 
I,  the  good  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  have  selected  from 
those  which  you  have  nourished  for  me,  the  one  that  was 
most  fitted  for  my  eternal  fold  V  The  mysterious  stranger 
was  seen  no  more,  and  the  father's  heart  was  comforted." 

February  25th.  We  anchored  in  Madras  Roads  this 
morning,  and  left  the  ship  in  an  accommodation-boat  which 
the  beach-master  had  sent  to  convey  the  Bishop  on  shore. 
The  manner  in  which  all  persons  on  board,  the  crew  as 
well  as  the  passengers  and  invalids,  took  their  leave  of  the 
Bishop,  showed  how  much  he  had  endeared  himself  to  them 
in  the  course  of  the  voyage ;  and,  as  the  ship  will  probably 
be  detained  here  a  week,  he  has  invited  the  lady  who  has 
already  been  so  much  indebted  to  his  kindness  in  her 
affliction,  to  spend  that  time  with  us,  promising  to  send  a 
-carriage  for  her  in  the  evening,  when  he  had  ascertained 
what  apartments  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  offer  her.  He 
was  much  amused  with  the  uncouth  and  primitive  structure 
•f  the  boat,  which,  he  said,  might  well  pass  for  the  gig  of 
Noah's  ark,  its  lofty  sides,  the  high-raised  benches  of  the 
rowers,  and  the  noisy  but  not  unmusical  song  with  which 
they  accompanied  their  oars,  as  they  conveyed  us  through 
'the  surf,  which  happened  to  be  much  more  quiet  than  usual'. 


Colonel  Taylor,  the  town-major,  and  Mr.  Roy,  the  senior 
chaplain,  met  his  lordship  at  the  master  attendant's  office, 
and  conducted  us  to  the  Garden  House  prepared  for  our 
reception.  It  is  handsomely  furnished,  and  two  carriages, 
as  well  as  all  the  materiel  of  housekeeping,  have  been 
provided  for  the  Bishop's  use,  during  his  residence  here. 
He  suffers  much  from  the  heat,  which,  except  when  the 
sea-breeze  is  blowing,  is  intense.  It  is  less  pernicious,  how- 
ever, than  the  steamy  and  oppressive  climate  of  Calcutta, 
though  there  are  fewer  alleviations  from  punkahs  and  closed 
windows.  The  season  is  so  far  advanced  for  travelling 
that  the  Bishop  can  only  afford  to  spend  a  few  weeks  at  the 
Presidency,  despatching  the  business  of  more  immediate 
importance,  and  deferring  other  matters  of  general  regula- 
tion till  his  return  from  the  South.  This  will  just  afford 
time  for  the  necessary  arrangements  for  our  journey;  but 
so  many  things  will  be  crowded  into  this  brief  space,  that 
I  fear  his  strength  will  be  exhausted.  A  large  packet  of 
letters  was  waiting  for  him;  and,  among  others  of  great 
and  pressing  interest  from  different  quarters  of  his  diocese, 
there  is  one  from  the  Syrian  Metropolitan,  entreating  his 
aid  and  assistance  in  the  difficulties  that  had  unexpectedly 
arisen  from  the  cabals  formed  to  oppose  the  establishment 
of  his  authority.  He  states  that  the  resident  had  given  him 
leave  to  visit  the  churches  of  his  communion,  promising 
that,  if  they  recognised  his  authority,  he  would  do  the  same: 
he  denies  that  the  two  native  metropolitans  are  true  bishops, 
because  they  have  not  the  sustaticon  from  the  patriarch, 
and  has  therefore  deposed  them  to  the  rank  of  priests :  he 
asserts  that  the  Church  in  general  have  received  him  gladly, 
but  that  Philoxenus  and  Dionysius  are  refractory  and  re- 
bellious.   This  letter  has  been  sent  to  Calcutta,  and  arrrv- 


76 


ing  after  the  Bishop  sailed,  has  been  returned  from  thence ; 
and  it  is  evident  that  the  letter  he  sent  to  Athanasius  by 
Mr.  Doran  has  never  been  received.  This  state  of  things 
is  sufficiently  alarming,  and  makes  his  immediate  presence 
among  them,  as  a  counsellor  and  mediator  between  the  two 
parties,  most  desireable.  His  heart  is  full  of  this  overwhelm- 
ing interest,  and,  while  conversing  about  it  to  a  late  hour 
this  evening,  "  May  God  give  us  wisdom  !"  has  been  his 
often-repeated  ejaculation. 

February  26th,  Sunday.  The  Bishop  preached  in  the 
morning  at  St.  George's,  the  Presidency  Church,  to  an 
overflowing  congregation.  His  text  was  Phil.  i.  21,  "  To 
die  is  gain"*  and  his  sermon  one  of  his  most  impressive 
and  masterly  compositions. 

February  27th.  After  breakfasting  with  the  governor, 
and  calling  on  Sir  Ralph  Palmer,  the  Bishop  was  engaged 
with  visiters  till  three  o'clock.  He  was  much  struck  with 
the  beauty  and  situation  of  Mowbray,  on  the  banks  of  a 
small  river,  and  commanding  a  view  of  St.  Thomas's 
Mount,  and  was  as  much  delighted  at  meeting  an  old  col- 
lege friend  in  the  chief  justice,  as  I  was  in  recognising 
most  unexpectedly  a  school-fellow  of  my  own,  standing  at 
Rugby,  in  one  of  the  other  judges.  A  few  such  meetings, 
he  said,  would  almost  make  us  forget  the  seas  that  separate 
us  from  our  country.  At  five,  after  an  early  dinner,  I 
attended  his  lordship  to  the  Female  Asylum,  an  admirable 

*  The  remembrance  of  this  his  first  sermon  at  Madras  will  never  be 
effaced  from  the  minds  of  those  who  heard  it,  not  only  from  its  many 
striking  beauties,  but  as  being  almost  a  prophetic  intimation  that  he  was 
then  hastening  to  the  last  scene  of  his  earthly  labours.  How  little  did 
they  imagine  while  hanging  on  his  lips,  that  the  triumph  of  the  text  was 
so  soon  to  be  fulfilled  in  him ! 


77 

institution,  containing  about  three  hundred  girls,  and  sup- 
ported partly  by  government,  partly  by  private  contribu- 
tions, and  partly  by  their  own  skill  and  industry  in  embroi- 
dery and  other  work.  Dr.  Rottler,  the  senior  missionary 
of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  has 
been  the  chaplain  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  the 
venerable  man  was  catechizing  them  when  we  arrived. 
The  Bishop  begged  him  to  proceed  with  his  instructions, 
and  was  moved  even  to  tears  by  the  affectionate  and  simple 
manner  in  which  he  taught  them,  and  the  evident  attach- 
ment of  the  children  to  their  aged  pastor.  The  Bishop 
addressed  a  few  words  to  them  in  his  own  winning  and 
impressive  manner,  and  gave  them  a  holiday  to-morrow. 
A  public  dinner  at  Government-house  closed  a  busy  and 
exhausting  day. 

March  1st.  A  succession  of  visiters  throughout  the 
morning,  with  the  exception  of  the  hour  when  we  escaped 
to  attend  prayers  at  St.  George's.  It  has  been  usual  to 
have  prayers  on  Wednesday  and  Friday  morning  during 
Lent,  bat  they  are  so  ill  attended,  that  the  Bishop  recom- 
mends they  should  be  discontinued  another  year,  and  a 
weekly  lecture  substituted  for  them.  In  the  afternoon  he 
visited  the  Male  Asylum,  an  institution  justly  celebrated  as 
the  place  where  Dr.  Bell  first  introduced  the  system  of 
education  which  has  since  become  famous  throughout  the 
world.  A  noble  building  is  half  finished  for  the  schools  ; 
but  the  house  where  Dr.  Bell  formerly  resided,  appears  to 
be  but  little  changed,  except  from  the  injury  of  time,  and 
is  still  occupied  by  Mr.  Roy,  as  the  superintendent  of  the 
asylum.  There  may,  perhaps,  be  an  unwillingness  to  alter 
what  reverence  for  the  founder  of  the  national  system  of 
education  in  Great-Britain  induced  Bishop  Middleton  to 


78 


denominate  classic  ground.  His  lordship  examined  three 
classes,  and  begged  a  holiday  for  the  boys  to-morrow.  He 
thought  it  by  far  the  best  specimen  of  the  system  he  had 
ever  seen,  and  was  not  less  pleased  with  the  appearance 
of  health  and  enjoyment  among  the  lads  in  their  noble 
play-ground,  which  forms  a  striking  contrast  with  the  con- 
fined premises  of  the  free-school  in  Calcutta.  Many  of 
these  soldiers'  orphans  have  turned  out  excellent  school- 
masters, surveyors,  and  even  architects;  and  nearly  the 
whole  expense  is  defrayed  by  the  Male  Asylum  Press, 
conducted  by  sixteen  young  men  and  ten  apprentices,  all 
selected  from  the  institution. 

Accounts  are  daily  arriving  of  the  disturbances  in  Tra- 
vancore,  but  all  seem  to  agree  in  the  fact,  that  Mar 
Athanasius  is  received  both  by  the  people  and  the  body  of 
the  clergy.  The  Bishop  was  much  grieved  to  find  yester- 
day, that  Mr.  Doran  has  been  delayed  in  Madras,  and  that 
his  letter  has  never  yet  been  sent.  He  has  directed  me  to 
send  it  instantly,  and  is  preparing  a  second  letter,  exhorting 
the  Syrian  to  milder  measures.  His  influence  may  yet 
restore  every  thing. 

March  2d.  In  the  afternoon  his  lordship  visited  the 
schools  and  church  of  Vepery,  the  chief  missionary  station 
of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  He 
was  received  by  the  Rev,  Dr.  Rottler  and  Mr.  Haubroe, 
the  resident  missionaries,  and  the  members  of  the  select 
committee.  All  the  schools,  both  English  and  Tamil, 
attached  to  the  establishment,  were  assembled  in  the  church 
and  examined.  The  Bishop  expressed  his  pleasure  at  the 
excellent  state  of  the  institution,  and  particularly  with  the 
Native  Girls'  School,  which  he  was  surprised  to  observe  has 
unostentatiously  and  usefully  existed  in  these  missions  for 


79 

many  years,  while  the  project  of  introducing  uative  female 
education  is  considered  a  phenomenon  in  Calcutta.  He 
was  delighted  with  the  new  church,  a  beautiful  building  of 
simple  Gothic,  the  only  church  of  that  style  in  India  ;  and 
he  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Law,  the  architect,  complimenting 
him  on  the  ingenuity  and  skill  which,  without  ever  having 
seen  any  specimen  of  Gothic  architecture,  had  achieved  so 
much  under  so  many  disadvantages.    His  own  skilful  eye 
and  classical  taste,  which  has  been  formed  on  the  purest 
models  of  the  art,  detected  some  few  violations  of  propriety, 
particularly  in  the  western  door,  and  the  ornaments  of  the 
eastern  window;  but  these  suggestions  only  increased  the 
value  of  his  general  admiration  of  this  really  beautiful  and 
noble  structure.    He  was  particularly  struck  with  the  good 
taste  which,  by  placing  the  pulpit  and  reading-desk  on  each 
side  of  the  aisle,  will  give,  from  every  part  of  the  church,  a 
full  and  uninterrupted  view  of  the  recess  of  the  altar,  which 
is  well  raised  and  of  excellent  proportions.    It  is  his  wish, 
that  in  every  church  the  altar  should  be  the  first  and  chief 
object,  and  that  it  should  be  rather  more  elevated  than  is 
usually  the  case.    He  intimated  to  the  committee  his  in- 
tention of  consecrating  the  church  on  his  return  to  the 
presidency,  when  the  furniture  of  the  interior  is  expected 
to  be  completed. 

He  addressed  the  children  of  the  several  schools  before 
they  were  dismissed,  as  well  as  the  catechists  and  the 
native  Christians,  who  were  assembled  in  great  numbers  to 
receive  his  blessing.  On  our  return  in  the  carriage,  hr 
suggested  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  seminary  here, 
not  merely  for  catechists  and  schoolmasters,  but  also  for 
the  native  priesthood,  as  auxiliary  to  the  objects  of  Bishop's 
College,  but  on  a  scale  of  less  expense,  and  for  the  imme- 
diate supply  of  the  peninsula. 


80 


March  3d.  Both  yesterday  and  to-day  have  been  chiefly 
occupied  by  the  visits  of  some  of  the  clergy,  who  had  not 
before  seen  the  Bishop,  and  conferences  on  a  subject  of 
great  importance,  which  is  referred  for  his  decision.  The 
churches  of  the  native  Christians  have  lately  been  much 
agitated  on  the  question  of  the  observance  or  abolition  of 
caste.  It  seems  that  Swartz,  and  the  elder  missionaries 
who  followed  him,  allowed  these  distinctions  to  remain  to 
a  considerable  degree  among  their  converts,  but  the  younger 
missionaries  have  uniformly  opposed  them.  The  Bishop 
is  anxious  to  hear  all  the  opinions  he  can  collect,  and 
declines  pronouncing  his  own,  till  he  has  seen  the  churches 
of  the  South. 

March  5th,  Sunday*  The  Bishop  preached  at  St. 
George's  in  the  morning,  and  at  St.  Mary's  in  the  after- 
noon. 

March  7th.  On  my  road  to  Palaveram,  this  morning, 
I  visited  the  church  on  the  great  Mount,  and  examined  it 
with  far  greater  interest  than  it  deserved,  from  a  notion 
that  it  was  built  on  the  spot  which  tradition  has  assigned 
as  the  scene  of  St.  Thomas's  martyrdom.  This,  I  after- 
wards learned,  was  the  little  Mount,  a  mile  nearer  to 
Madras,  but  the  illusion  lasted  till  my  pilgrimage  was  over. 
The  church  owes  all  its  beauty  to  its  situation.  It  is  a 
plain,  white  building,  without  any  architectural  ornament 
or  regularity,  consisting  of  one  narrow  length  with  two 
side-wings  and  vaulted  roof.  It  seems  to  have  been  origin- 
ally Armenian,  but  to  have  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Roman  Catholics.  The  old  Sacristan,  whose  slumbers  I 
disturbed  in  the  vestry,  showed  me  a  few  Armenian  books 
mixed  with  Roman  missals. 

March  8th.    The  Bishop  held  a  confirmation  at  St'. 


81 


George's,  when  there  were  four  hundred  and  seventy-nine* 
candidates ;  and  it  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  a  more 
interesting  sight,  than  so  large  a  number  of  young  persons 
presented  by  their  respective  ministers  for  the  prayers  and 
blessing  of  their  chief  pastor.    There  was  a  considerable 
congregation  of  others  also,  and  his  lordship  therefore 
delivered  his  address  from  the  pulpit,  as  he  had  done 
occasionally  in  other  places.  Immediately  after  the  service, 
he  held  a  meeting  of  the  District  Committee  of  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  when  he  announced 
his  intention  of  proposing,  on  his  return  from  the  South, 
the  establishment  of  a  similar  committee  for  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,f  to  which,  in  conformity 
with  the  wishes  of  the  parent  societies,  the  care  of  super- 
intendence of  the  missions  might  be  transferred.    He  pro- 
posed also,  a  new  edition  of  Dr.  Rottler's  translation  of 
the  Tamil  Common  Prayer  Book,  in  a  smaller  and  more 
convenient  size ;  and  in  order  to  lessen  the  expense,  and 
thus  facilitate  its  more  general  circulation,  he  opened  a. 
separate  fund  for  the  purpose,  to  which  he  contributed 
largely  himself.   This  was  in  consequence  of  a  representa- 
tion made  to  him  a  few  days  ago,  by  the  missionaries  of 
the  Church  Missionary  and  Wesleyan,  as  well  as  other 

*  Two  hundred  more  than  were  confirmed  here  by  Bishop  Middletnn 
•in  1816,  and  more  than  double  the  number  confirmed  by  Bishop  Heber 
in  Calcutta. 

1 1  had  the  happiness,  after  the  Bishop's  death,  of  stating  these  inten- 
tions, now  rendered  sacred  by  that  event,  to  the  community  of  the 
Presidency,  on  Whitsunday,  from  the  pulpit  of  St.  George's,  where,  it 
is  needless  to  say,  they  met  with  the  most  prompt  and  liberal  support ; 
and  an  archidiaconal  committee  was  accordingly  formed  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  the  15th  of  May,  with  the  cordial  co-operation  of  all  classes. 

H 


m 

societies,  of  the  difficulty  they  found  in  procuring  copies  of 
the  quarto  edition,  and  the  impossibility  of  supplying  the 
wants  of  their  respective  congregations  at  the  price  it  now 
bears.*  His  lordship  stated  also  his  desire  of  obtaining 
the  fullest  possible  information  on  the  difficult  and  perplex- 
ing subject  of  caste  lately  submitted  to  him,  and  requested 
the  sub-committee  appointed  to  report  on  Native  Education, 
to  extend  their  inquiries  to  this  subject  also,  and  to  state 
their  opinions  to  him  on  his  return  to  the  Presidency. 

On  leaving  the  church,  the  Bishop  expressed  his  pleasure 
at  an  allusion  I  made  in  the  course  of  the  meeting,  to  the 
tradition  that  this  was  the  scene  of  the  apostle's  labours, 
and  alleged  several  reasons  for  believing  its  truth.  It 
rests,  indeed,  on  evidencet  more  than  sufficient  for  an 
association  which  we  naturally  love  to  cherish ;  and  perhaps 
the  strongest  reason  for  the  general  disinclination  to  receive 
it,  arises  from  the  paltry  fables  with  which  the  superstition 
and  ignorance  of  the  Portuguese  missionaries  have  invested 
it.  The  clergy  dined  with  the  Bishop  this  evening — fifteen 
in  number. 

March  9thk  The  Bishop  visited  the  military  station  of 
Poonamalee,  about  ten  miles  distant  from  Madras,  where 
there  is  a  d£pot  for  recruits  on  their  first  arrival  from 
England,  a  considerable  number  of  pensioners,  and  an 
asylum  for  the  children  of  soldiers.  All  these  circumstances 

*  I  am  happy  to  add,  that  this  new  edition,  in  octavo,  has  just  been 
completed  under  the  superintendence  of  Dr.  Rottler  and  the  Tamil  sub- 
committee, assisted  by  the  able  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer ;  and 
the  subscriptions  then  set  on  foot  have  enabled  the  committee  to  give 
this  valuable  boon  to  the  native  churches  at  the  very  low  price  of  two 
rupees  and  a  half. 

t  Vide  Appendix. 


83 


conspire  to  make  if  a  most  important  sphere  of  clerical 
labour,  comprising,  as  it  does,  a  very  large  number  of 
those  who  require  catechetical  instruction — the  young  and 
healthy,  who  have  not  yet  lost  the  good  impressions  of 
their  early  education,  and  the  veteran,  who  has  much  to 
unlearn,  after  a  long  life  perhaps  of  vicious  indulgence. 
Many  of  these  pensioners  are  allowed  to  live  at  Tripassore, 
about  eighteen  miles  further  inland,  and  which  is  occasion- 
ally visited  by  the  chaplain  of  Poonamalee.  We  mounted 
our  horses  at  day-break,  and  overtook  the  carriage  at 
seven;  but  the  road  was  so  bad,  that  we  were  obliged  to 
get  out  several  times,  and  literally  put  our  shoulders  to  the 
wheel.  After  sundry  adventures,  and  envying  the  riders 
in  bullock  hackeries,  which  cantered  merrily  along,  while 
we  hardly  moved,  we  arrived  at  last  at  the  chaplain's  door, 
where  the  officers  of  the  cantonment,  and  several  of  the 
clergy  from  Madras,  were  assembled  to  receive  the  Bishop. 
There  is  a  small  church  here,  which  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Middleton  in  181G;  but  it  is  much  disfigured  by 
an  enormous  pulpit,  which  completely  conceals  the  altar. 
The  Bishop  requested  that  this  might  be  removed  and 
given  to  Mr.  Sawyer's  Tamil  Chapel,  and  something 
smaller  and  less  unsightly  substituted  for  it.  lie  exceed- 
ingly dislikes  the  prevailing  custom  of  interrupting  the- 
view  of  the  communion-table,  and  recommends  the  adop- 
tion, in  all  cases,  of  two  light  desks,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  aisle,  and  raised  by  a  few  steps  from  the  level  of  th& 
floor,  as  in  the  new  church  at  Vepery. 

Divine  service  commenced  at  ten  o'clock,  when  the 
Bishop  administered  confirmation  to  one  hundred  and  five 
candidates.  While  I  was  arranging  them,  and  receiving 
their  tickets,  it  appeared  that  several  others,  who  had  not 


rt4 


previously  been  examined,  were  very  desirous  of  being 
admitted,  if  possible.    His  lordship,  when  I  mentioned  this 
to  him,  desired  me  to  examine  them,  and  promised,  if  I 
found  them  properly  instructed,  to  hold  a  second  service 
for  that  purpose  in  the  afternoon,  being  very  unwilling  to 
reject  any  whom  he  could  conscientiously  admit,  from  the 
great  uncertainty  whether  a  similar  opportunity  might  ever 
again  be  afforded  them.    His  address  after  the  morning 
service  had  particular  reference  to  these  new  candidates. 
Fourteen  of  these,  among  whom  was  an  old  pensioner,  I 
thought  sufficiently  prepared ;  but  there  was  one  young 
woman  who  came  with  her  little  boy,  and  thinking  him  too 
young,  I  advised  her  te  keep  him  back  till  the  Bishop's 
return  to  Madras.    She  had  stood  behind  the  rest  while  I 
was  speaking  to  them,  and  when  I  had  finished,  came  for- 
ward with  much  feeling,  and  begged  that  she  might  herself 
be  admitted.    She  wept  much,  was  evidently  in  declining 
health,  and  there  was  a  sincerity  and  earnestness  in  her 
whole  manner  that  affected  the  Bishop  most  powerfully. 
;1  Bring  them  both  to  me,"  he  said;  "  who  knows  whether 
.'hey  may  live  to  wish  for  it  again?"    The  evening  service 
and  the  second  confirmation  was  at  three  o'clock.  The 
Bishop  addressed  them  also  in  his  usual  impressive  manner, 
•tnd  at  five  o'clock  we  set  out  on  our  return  home.  We 
nad  scarcely,  however,  left  the  door,  when  we  found  an- 
other congregation  anxiously  expecting  him.    Mr.  Sawyer, 
one  of  the  Church  missionaries  at  Madras,  has  built  a  small 
»hapel  here,  with  a  school-room  and  catechist's  house. 
He  has  a  similar  establishment  at  Tripassore,  and  some 
other  neighbouring  places,  which  are  branches  of  his  mis- 
sion, and  to  each  of  which  he  makes  an  occasional  visit. 
We  found  here  seventy  or  eighty  persons  assembled,  and 


85 


the  Bishop  repeated  several  of  the  collects  and  the  Lord's 
prayer,  and  dismissed  them  with  the  benediction. 

While  I  was  engaged  with  the  candidates  between  the 
morning  and  evening  services,  the  Bishop  was  writing  an 
answer  to  an  important  communication  he  received  yester- 
day, and  in  the  result  of  which  he  is  much  interested.  It 
appears  that  a  considerable  number  of  poor  native  Chris- 
tians employed  about  the  beach,  have  built,  by  subscription, 
a  good  church  for  their  own  use ;  and  though  nominally 
Roman  Catholics,  yet,  being  dissatisfied  with  the  neglect 
they  have  experienced  from  their  own  pastors,  they  are 
just  balancing  whether  they  shall  not  seize  the  opportunity 
of  our  Bishop's  presence  at  Madras,  to  make  the  building, 
which  is  nearly  finished,  a  Protestant  church,  and  request 
the  services  of  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England. 
This  proposition,  no  doubt,  originates  chiefty  in  the  extra- 
ordinary feeling  of  personal  respect  and  affection  with 
which  all  classes,  native  as  well  as  European,  through  all, 
the  gradations  of  society,  regard  the  Bishop ;  for  it  is  alto- 
gether their  own  act,  uninfluenced  by  any  persuasion  of 
their  superior.  If  it  should  take  effect,  it  will  be  an  im- 
portant stride  of  our  Church  before  that  of  Rome,  and  will 
be  a  strong  additional  proof  of  the  excellent  effect  of  our 
Episcopal  establishment,  not  only  for  the  support,  but  also 
the  peaceable  extension  of  the  Church.  His  lordship  has 
written  to  say,  that,  if  this  should  be  their  determination, 
he  will,  with  great  pleasure,  consecrate  the  church  when  he 
returns — will  preach  to  them  himself  in  Portuguese  during 
his  residence  at  Madras,  and  fix  among  them  a  regularly 
ordained  minister.  Ho  mentioned  to  me  his  intention  of 
appointing  Mr.  Sawyer  to  this  new  duty,  as  one  whose 
temper  and  conduct  had  given  him  much  pleasure.  It  ft 
113 


well  for  the  Bishop  that  the  journey  will  give  him  soi. 
respite ;  many  such  days  of  labour,  together  with  that 
characteristic  earnestness  with  which  he  enters  into  every 
new  plan  of  usefulness,  would  soon  exhaust  a  stronger  frame 
than  his.  How  little  idea  have  our  friends  in  England 
what  the  labours  of  an  Indian  Bishop  really  are  ! 

March  10th.  The  Bishop  held  his  visitation  at  St. 
George's,  attended  by  fourteen  of  the  clergy.  His  charge 
was  much  improved  by  the  introduction  of  a  good  deal  of 
matter  connected  with  subjects  of  local  interest,  and  espe- 
cially some  additional  remarks  on  the  Abbe  Dubois.  Mr. 
Lawrie,  the  junior  minister  of  the  Scotch  Church,  called 
on  the  Bishop  after  the  service,  and  introduced  the  mis- 
sionaries of  the  London  Society ;  for  here,  as  elsewhere, 
admiration  and  respect  for  him  seem  to  form  a  point  of 
union  for  members  of  every  Church.  A  request  has  been 
made  to  him  by  some  of  the  leading  members  of  society, 
that  he  would  print  the  sermons  preached  during  his  resi- 
dence at  Madras,  and  he  has  consented  to  do  so  on  his 
return.  Several  times,  as  we  have  been  riding  by  St. 
George's,  he  has  remarked  its  beautiful  structure  rising 
amidst  the  palms  that  surround  it,  as  a  striking  emblem  of 
I  he  peaceful  and  gradual  establishment  of  Christianity  in 
India ;  and  to-day,  as  we  were  going  to  church,  he  men- 
tioned his  intention  of  complying  with  this  request,  and 
promised  to  make  a  sketch  of  St.  George's  for  the  frontis- 
piece of  the  little  volume,  with  this  appropriate  motto — 
Crescitc  felices,  too,  crescite  Palma! 

The  clergy  dined  with  him  in  the  evening,  and  his 
welightful  conversation  made  the  close  of  the  day  one  of 
the  most  instructive  parts  of  this  apostolical  ordinance;  and 
the  fervour  of  the  good  Bishop,  in  the  prayer  with  which 
he  dismissed  us,  was  most  impressive. 


8; 


March  11th.  The  Bishop,  attended  by  the  archdeacon 
and  eight  of  the  clergy,  visited  the  nawab,  or  rather  his 
uncle,  the  regent,  Azem  Jah  Bahader  (for  the  nawab  him- 
self is  an  infant.)  We  were  in  our  robes,  and  the  Bishop 
in  his  doctor's  gown.  The  regent  received  the  Bishop  at 
his  carriage  (attended  by  the  town-major,  Colonel  Taylor,) 
and  placed  him  on  a  sofa  by  himself.  His  brother,  who 
talked  Persian  tolerably  well,  placed  the  archdeacon  and 
me  on  another.  His  questions  were  curiously  minute  as 
to  the  office,  rank,  salary,  and  number  of  Bishops  in  Eng- 
land; and  especially  why  they  did  not  wear  beards — in- 
dependently of  which,  it  seemed  difficult  for  him  to  conceive 
the  existence  ef  the  gravity  and  wisdom  of  a  chief  moolah  ; 
and  when  I  told  him  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was 
superior  to  all,  he  said,  "  Of  course  then  he  wears  a  beard." 
He  says  the  nawab  has  a  library  of  about  2000  volumes* 
and  an  establishment  of  eight  or  ten  moonshees  :  it  seems 
furious  that  the  chief  moonshee,  in  a  Mussulman  Court, 
should  be  a  Hindoo,  Rajah  Khoshee  Lai.  The  court, 
though  small,  is  sufficiently  splendid,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  a  greater  number  of  learned  Mahometans  than  I  ex- 
pected. 

Thence  we  went  in  our  robes  to  Lady  Munro,  to  whom 
the  Bishop  presented  the  vote  of  thanks  from  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  for  her  kind  patron- 
age, particularly  of  the  schools  at  Vepery,  to  which  she  has 
been  in  the  habit  of  presenting  annual  prizes  from  her  own 
bounty.  I  have  seldom  witnessed  a  more  interesting  or 
affecting  picture :  the  beauty  and  gracefulness  of  Lady 
Munro,  the  grave  and  commanding  figure  of  the  governor, 
the  youthful  appearance  and  simple  dignity  of  the  dear 
Bishop,  the  beloved  of  all  beholders,  presented  a  scene 


83 


such  as  few  can  ever  hope  to  witness.  Sir  Thomas  listened 
with  deep  interest  to  every  word  that  the  Bishop  addressed 
to  her,  and  then  said,  while  he  pressed  his  hand  and  the 
tears  were  rolling  down  his  venerable  cheeks — "  My  lord, 
it  will  be  in  vain  for  me,  after  this,  to  preach  humility  to 
Lady  Munro ;  she  will  be  proud  of  this  day  to  the  latest 
hour  she  lives."  "  God  bless  you,  Sir  Thomas  !"  was  the 
only  answer  the  feelings  of  the  Bishop  allowed  him  to  make 
— "  And  God  bless  you,  my  lord  !"  was  the  earnest  and 
affectionate  reply. 

We  dined  in  the  afternoon,  and  met  the  clergy  at  the 
archdeacon's,  at  Brodie  Castle ;  and,  during  our  long  drive, 
the  Bishop  amused  me  with  a  singular  history  of  a  most 
respectable  and  excellent  old  man,  who,  for  many  years, 
had  secretly  followed  the  strange  delusions  of  Lutherburg 
and  his  party,  had  treasured  up  large  folios  filled  with 
hieroglyphical  representations  of  dreams  and  visions,  but 
complained  to  the  Bishop  (whom  he  loved  as  his  son,  and 
therefore  admitted  to  this  secret  confidence,)  that  the 
astral  spirits  had  played  him  false.  The  life  of  this  ex- 
cellent man  was  filled  up  with  daily  acts  of  professional 
duty  and  private  virtue,  while  his  secret  studies  were  de- 
voted to  these  absurd  chimeras,  imposed  upon  him  by 
artful  and  designing  hypocrites.  "  He  is  now  gone,"  said 
the  Bishop,  "  where  the  former  will  be  mercifully  accepted, 
and  the  latter  forgotten,  like  the  visions  of  a  distempered 
dream." 

His  lordship  has  invited  Mr.  Doran  to  join  our  party. 
The  government  has  made  a  most  liberal  provision  for  our 
comfort,  in  an  abundant  supply  of  tents,  elephants,  and 
camels.  The  only  difficulty  Colonel  Taylor  has  had,  is  to 
persuade  the  Bishop  to  accept  what  is  considered  a  suffi- 


89 


cient  equipment.  He  was  in  vain  attempting  for  several 
days  to  reconcile  him  to  the  proper  number  of  tents ;  and 
this  morning  he  took  me  aside,  and  said  he  perceived  it 
was  hopeless  trying  to  combat  the  Bishop's  fear  of  giving 
unnecessary  trouble,  and  as  he  was  convinced  the  comfort 
of  the  journey  at  this  season,  as  well  as  the  respectability 
of  his  progress  in  the  eyes  of  the  natives,  would  chiefly 
depend  on  the  sufficiency  of  the  camp  equipage,  he  should 
take  the  liberty  of  sending  all  he  had  assigned.  The  ar- 
rangements were  all  finished  to-day,  and  the  baggage  was 
sent  oft*  this  evening. 

March  12th.  The  Bishop  preached  to  an  overflowing 
congregation  at  the  chapel  in  the  Black  Town  in  the  morn- 
ing, and,  great  expedition  having  been  used  in  completing 
the  preparations  for  lighting  St.  George's,  he  preached  the 
first  evening  lecture  there,  which  he  has  established  instead 
ef  the  former  afternoon  service.  The  church  was  crowded 
to  excess,  and  the  Bishop's  farewell  address,  from  the 
words  "  He  sent  them  away"  was  a  forcible  and  touching 
appeal  to  the  hearts  of  his  audience,  especially  begging 
them  to  continue  their  attendance  at  this  new  service,  which 
he  had  suggested  for  their  greater  comfort,  and  charging 
them  to  remember  him  in  their  prayers.  I  do  not  know 
when  he  can  possibly  have  found  time  for  the  composition 
of  this  sermon  ;  for  every  hour  since  his  arrival  here  has 
been  most  fully  and  entirely  occupied.* 

March  13th.    We  left  Madras  this  afternoon,  after  a 

'  The  somewhat  singular  text,  together  with  the  felicitous  transition 
lYom  the  former  and  argumentative  part  of  his  sermon,  to  the  concluding 
address,  and  its  application  to  the  immediate  circumstances  of  the  occa- 
sion, made  a  lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  his  auditors.  Alas ! 
they  heard  him  again  no  more ;  "he  sont  them  atcaij"  with  his  last  blessing- ! 


90 


fortnight  of  great  enjoyment  as  well  as  exertion.  The 
novelty  and  variety  of  the  objects  that  have  engaged  the 
Bishop's  attention,  the  excellence  of  the  public  institutions, 
and  the  foundation  of  missionary  labours  in  the  venerable 
establishments  at  Vepery,  have  all  conspired  to  excite  the 
strongest  interest  in  favour  of  Madras ;  and  no  where  has 
his  own  character  been  more  justly  appreciated.  He  has 
been  particularly  gratified  by  observing  the  harmony  that 
so  happily  prevails  among  the  clergy,  and  their  disinterested 
kindness  in  assisting  each  other,  and  even  seeking  for 
opportunities  of  extending  their  sphere  of  usefulness.  This 
was  particularly  shown  in  the  readiness  with  which  they 
embraced  his  arrangement  for  the  afternoon  service  at  the 
fort  church,  in  consequence  of  which,  Messrs.  Roy,  Moor- 
som,  and  Denton  will  take  that  duty  in  rotation  with  the 
chaplain  of  St.  Mary's.  On  the  whole,  I  am  sure  he  leaves 
Madras  with  cordial  feelings  of  attachment  to  the  inhabit- 
ants, and  increasing  interest  in  this  important  portion  of 
his  diocese.  All  this  makes  us  look  forward  with  great 
pleasure  to  the  few  weeks  we  hope  to  spend  here  on  our 
return  ;  and,  with  the  prospect  of  my  future  connexion  with 
the  clergy,  I  could  not  have  wished  for  a  happier  or  more 
delightful  introduction. 

We  drove  in  our  carriage  to  the  Mount,  the  head-quar- 
ters of  the  artillery,  where  we  spent  the  evening  with  Mr. 
TIallewell,  the  chaplain  of  the  station.  He  took  us  to  the 
top  of  the  hill,  which  commands  the  best  prospect  of  Ma- 
dras and  the  surrounding  country,  and  showe  the  Bishop 
the  foundations  of  the  new  church  which  government  is 
building  in  front  of  the  parade-ground,  calculated  to  hold 
five  or  six  hundred  persons.  After  joining  in  the  evening 
devotions  of  this  excellent  family,  we  prosperously  began 


our  journey,  by  a  run  in  our  palanquins  to  Sadras,  where 
our  tents  are  waiting  for  us.  The  Bishop  promised  me  a 
sketch  of  the  Mount,  but  he  was  too  much  hurried  to  take  it. 

March  14th.  We  halted  at  day-break  at  Mahabali- 
•pooram  (the  town  of  the  great  Bali,)  commonly  called  the 
Seven  Pagodas.  Captain  Harkness,  who  commands  the 
Bishop's  escort,  and  Doctor  Hyne,  an  accomplished  natu- 
ralist appointed  to  attend  him  as  his  surgeon,  joined  us 
here ;  and  we  found  the  former,  who  is  an  excellent  Tamil 
scholar,  an  intelligent  cicerone  through  the  curious  remains 
of  this  ancient  city,  now  in  a  state  of  comparative  ruin  and 
desertion.  There  is  a  tradition  that  within  the  last  century 
the  gilded  domes  of  several  large  pagodas  were  just  visible 
above  the  sea,  not  a  trace  of  which  is  now  left.  The  only 
temple  remaining  on  the  sea-shore  is  striking  in  its  position, 
and  interesting  from  having  been  apparently  a  united  temple 
of  Vishnu  and  Siva,  whose  rival  claims,  as  you  are  aware, 
divide  the  religion  of  India,  and  are  seldom  seen  in  amity 
together.  The  first  has  a  recumbent  figure  of  Vishnu  ;  and 
the  second,  which  is  the  largest,  and  is  washed  by  the 
waves,  has  the  lingam  in  its  sanctuary,  and  a  pillar  in  front 
which  is  now  actually  in  the  sea.  The  two  are  connected, 
and  appear  originally  to  have  been  enclosed  by  several 
walls  now  in  ruins. 

About  three  hundred  yards  from  the  sea  runs  a  low  irre- 
gular hill  parallel  with  the  shore,  with  immense  masses  of 
loose  granite,  containing  many  cave-temples,  but  none  of 
them  remarkable  for  size  or  grandeur.  After  seeing  the 
stupendous  excavations  of  Elephanta,  Karlee,  and  Ellora, 
these  are  only  interesting  as  they  possess  the  same  charac- 
ter, and  apparently  different  from  any  other  remains  in  the 
"Peninsula.    This  certainly  adds  probability  to  the  tradi- 


92 


t  tonal  account  preserved  among  the  Bramins,  that  ihe  whole 
of  these  unfinished  works  were  executed  by  sculptors  and 
masons  of  a  distant  province,  who  had  fled  from  the  tyranny 
of  their  prince ;  but,  after  some  years'  exile  here,  were 
persuaded  to  return  to  their  own  country.  In  some  of  these 
there  are  beautiful  specimens  of  sculpture,  and  many  full 
and  elaborate  descriptions  from  the  Mahabharut  on  the 
sides  of  the  rock,  in  almost  every  part  of  the  hill.  We 
were  most  struck  with  one  very  small  temple  in  the  northern 
hill,  but  of  beautiful  proportions,  and  much  resembling  the 
remains  of  Egyptian  architecture.  In  one  part  of  this  is 
represented,  with  great  spirit,  the  story  of  Vishnu's  appear- 
ance in  the  form  of  a  dwarf  to  the  proud  monarch,  who  was 
vain  of  his  universal  empire.  He  asked,  as  a  boon,  for  three 
steps  in  his  dominion.  Bali  assented  ;  and  Vishnu,  assum- 
ing his  own  form,  with  the  first  stride  took  possession  of 
earth,  with  the  second  of  heaven,  and  the  sculptor  has 
represented  him  in  the  act  of  taking  the  third,  which  was 
to  annihilate  the  monarch's  power.  There  is  much  beauty 
also  in  the  opposite  compartment,  which  represents  the 
bath  of  Lukshmee,  over  whom  the  elephants  are  pouring 
water.  The  Bishop  took  a  rapid  sketch  of  a  small  temple 
on  the  very  point  of  the  rock,  to  which  the  only  approach 
has  been  a  stair,  which  is  now  destroyed.  It  is  a  stone 
building  with  a  brick  foundation,  partly  shaded  by  a  tree, 
which  is  secretly  undermining  what  it  appears  treacherously 
to  adorn  and  shelter.  The  town,  a  part  of  which  is  still 
inhabited,  has  many  remains  of  former  magnificence,  and 
a  noble  tank,  graced  of  course  with  many  a  romantic  le- 
gend. Several  very  imperfect  descriptions*  of  this  remark- 

*  See  a  paper  by  Mr.  Chambers,  Asiatic  Researches,  i.  145,  another 


93 

able  place  have  been  given,  but  an  accurate  account  of  the 
several  ruins  is  still  a  desideratum. 

A  ride  of  a  few  miles  brought  us  to  breakfast  at  our  camp, 
a  little  beyond  Sadras.  With  all  the  comforts  even  of  this 
princely  mode  of  travelling,  the  heat  is  still  intense,  and 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  attempt  any  thing  like  employ- 
ment during  the  day.  While  we  were  at  dinner,  the  Bishop 
was  informed  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winckler,  a  missionary 
from  the  Netherlands  Society,  resided  in  Sadras ;  and  as 
it  was  then  too  late  to  invite  him  to  our  tents,  he  sent  Mr. 
Doran  and  me  in  the  evening  with  a  kind  message  to  him, 
expressive  of  his  regret  that  he  had  not  sooner  known  of 
his  being  in  the  neighbourhood,  that  he  might  have  made 
his  acquaintance.  He  has  two  schools,  and  is  about  to 
build  a  small  chapel  with  subscriptions  which  he  is  collect- 
ing for  that  purpose.  He  has  a  small  Dutcli  and  Portu- 
guese congregation,  from  the  poor  remains  of  the  Nether- 
lands inhabitants,  and  their  dependents,  still  lingering  among 
the  ruins  of  their  former  settlement.  The  small  fort  near 
the  sea-shore  is  now  dismantled,  and  a  few  handsome  tombs 
(on  which  the  Dutch  seem  always  to  have  bestowed  con- 
siderable care  and  expense)  is  all  that  remains  to  remind 
us  of  their  greatness.  Mr.  Winckler's  sphere  of  duty  is  of 
the  most  humble  and  unpromising  description,  but  yet  is 
almost  more  than  his  nervous  and  sickly  frame  can  bear. 
He  was  very  grateful  to  his  lordship  for  the  kindness  that 
suggested  our  little  embassy.  On  our  return  to  camp,  we 
found  the  Bishop  and  the  rest  of  the  party  drinking  tea  on 
the  shore,  under  the  light  of  a  lovely  moon ;  and,  after  our 

by  Mr.  Goldingham,  ibid.  v.  69,  and  two  others,  much  more  minute,  in 
the  5fh  and  6th  Nos.  of  the  Oriental  Herald,  published  at  Madras  in  1820. 

I 


*>4 


usual  evening  prayers,  we  were  all  glad  to  retire  to  bed 
early,  and  prepare  for  our  march  to-morrow. 

March  15th.  We  marched  at  four,  and  our  road  lay 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  sea-shore,  through  a  cultivated, 
pleasant  country,  abounding  in  palmyra  and  other  trees. 
We  reached  a  choultry  at  Tuknumporhim,  in  which  we 
breakfasted  and  spent  the  morning.  The  Bishop  finished 
the  sketch  he  made  yesterday  of  Mahabalipooram,  and 
spent  an  hour  after  tiffin  in  talking  with  some  old  European 
pensioners  whom  he  found  on  the  other  side  of  the  same 
choultry,  and  who  were  travelling  with  their  native  families 
to  end  their  days  at  Cuddalorc.  He  gave  them  some  money 
io  mend  their  evening  meal,  and  promised  them  a  supply 
of  books  when  they  reached  their  destination.  We  made 
an  evening  march  of  eight  miles,  crossing  over  an  arm  of 
the  sea  about  a  mile  broad,  but  not  too  deep  for  our  horses, 
and  then  traversing  a  lovely  jungle,  more  like  Ceylon  than 
the  coast  of  Coromandel,  containing  every  variety  of  trees 
and  flowers.  We  found  our  tents  pitched  near  a  beautiful 
tope  of  mangoe  trees  at  the  village  of  Allumparva,  famous 
along  the  whole  coast  for  the  finest  oysters.  The  tahsildar 
met  the  Bishop  With  all  due  honours*  but  rather  exceeded 
the  instructions  he  had  received  from  government,  in  bring- 
ing the  dancing-girls  as  well  as  the  village  music.  Both 
form  part  of  the  usual  honours  paid  to  persons  of  rank  in 
travelling,  but  the  government*  with  very  proper  considera- 
tion, in  their  circular  instructions  to  the  provincial  authori- 
ties, have  expressly  forbidden  the  former,  as  an  indecorous 
accompaniment  to  the  progress  of  a  Christian  Bishop.* 

*  At  this  place  the  Journal  of  the  Bishop  himself  breaks  off,  and  I 
have  made  fewer  extracts  from  my  own  than  I  should  otherwise  have 


March  16th.  A  march  of  thirteen  miles  through  a  well 
cultivated  plain  country,  separated  from  the  sea  by  high 
sand-hills,  mostly  covered  with  shrubs,  brought  us  to  Con- 
jamcre.  The  Bishop  wrote  his  second  letter  to  Mar  Atha- 
nasius,*  and  gave  it  to  me  to  translate  into  Syriac.  It  is 
excellently  calculated  to  allay  his  violence,  without  com- 
promising at  all  his  undoubted  authority. 

March  17th.  We  arrived  at  Pondicherry  after  an  in- 
tensely hot  march,  and  found  our  tents  pitched  on  a  burn- 
ing sand,  about  a  mile  from  the  town.  The  road  is  not 
unlike  that  from  Galle  to  Columbo,  with  abundance  of 
palmyra ;  and  the  country,  though  sandy,  not  at  all  desti- 
tute of  cultivation.  After  breakfast,  the  police-master  ar- 
rived with  a  message  of  welcome  from  the  French  governor, 
and,  half  an  hour  after,  one  of  his  aides-de-camp  brought 
an  invitation  to  an  early  dinner,  and  a  guard  of  honour  to 
remain  with  the  Bishop.  The  cure  of  Pondicherry,  Padre 
Felice,  a  capuchin  from  Italy,  sent  a  very  civil  message, 
begging  the  Bishop  to  use  his  garden-house,  which  is  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  our  tents ;  but  as  wo  must  march  to- 
morrow, in  order  to  reach  Cuddalore  before  Sunday,  his 
lordship  declined  accepting  it :  we  did  not  therefore  see 
the  cure.  We  were  received  at  Government-house  in  a 
most  cordial  and  hospitable  manner,  and  among  the  guests 
at  dinner  the  Bishop  was  pleased  to  find  the  Vioomte  de 
Richniont,  who  has  lately  arrived  from  Europevto  succeed 
to  the  government,  and  brought  letters  for  his  lordship, 

done  respecting  those  places,  particularly  .V.  Tlwmas'  Mount  and  Maha- 
balipouram,  which  he  has  so  admirably  described.    Would  that  his  own 
hand  had  delineated  the  crowded  and  interesting  picture  of  his  few  re- 
maining days  ! 
*  Vide  Appendix. 


96 


from  Mr.  Elphinstone  at  Bombay.  He  is  an  accomplished 
man,  and  has  travelled  much  in  India,  Persia,  and  many 
countries  of  Europe.  His  fellow-traveller,  Monsieur  Be- 
langer,  is  also  an  intelligent  young  man  ;  and  an  old  gentle- 
man, who  has  employed  many  years  in  antiquarian  re- 
searches, and  has  seen  much  of  the  northern  provinces  of 
Hindostan,  was  not  the  least  amusing  of  the  party.  The 
conversation  of  these  gentlemen  with  the  Bishop  was  lively 
and  brilliant.  He  talks  French  with  considerable  ease  and 
fluency,  and  it  would  be  difficult  for  men  of  any  country  ta 
start  a  subject  of  conversation,  however  foreign  from  his 
own  immediate  pursuits,  with  which  his  various  and  discur- 
sive reading  has  not  made  him  in  some  degree  familiar ; 
there  is  a  playfulness  also  in  his  mode  of  communicating 
what  he  knows,  and  a  tact  and  consideration  for  the  na- 
tional and  literary  prejudices  of  others,  that  particularly 
endeared  him  to  the  little  circle  of  to-day. 

After  dinner,  while  the  Bishop  walked  out  with  Mr. 
Cordier,  the  governor,  I  went  with  the  rest  of  our  party 
to  visit  the  college  and  church  of  the  Jesuits.  The  church 
is  altogether  the  most  correct  ecclesiastical  building  I  have 
seen  in  India,  being  after  the  model  of  the  ancient  churches; 
but  there  is  an  unfinished  and  desolate  air  about  it,  which 
seems  to  indicate  the  present  poverty  of  the  mission.  Ves- 
pers were  just  over,  and  there  were  a  few  natives  kneeling 
at  their  private  devotions  in  different  parts  of  the  aisle,  or 
leading  by  a  solitary  lamp  on  the  ground. 

The  titular  Bishop  of  Ilalicaruassus,  who  resides  here 
as  the  chief  of  the  mission,  sent  his  compliments  to  me,  and 
invited  me  to  visit  him  in  his  cell.  He  was  dressed  in  the 
usual  plain  robe,  with  a  gold  cross.  I  found  him  a  gentle- 
manly, well  informed  man.  and  very  good-natured  in  giving 


9', 


me  all  the  information  about  the  establishment  which  our 
short  interview  allowed  me  to  ask.  He  complained  much 
of  the  sufferings  of  the  mission,  almost  from  its  first  founda- 
tion, by  the  constant  wars  between  the  French  and  English, 
the  suppression  of  the  Jesuits,  and  the  revolution.  They 
had  once  a  noble  library,  but,  after  the  first  capture  of 
Pondichcrry  by  our  army,  in  17G1,  it  was  almost  entirely 
dissipated,  and  (as  he  expressed  it)  the  books  have  never 
yet  found  their  way  back  again.  I  was  in  hopes  of  finding 
some  Persian  or  Syriac  manuscripts,  but  he  assured  me 
they  had  nothing  of  the  kind,  having,  never  had  any  con- 
nexion with  the  missionaries  of  Persia,  or  with  the  Chris- 
tians of  St.  Thomas,  in  Malabar.  The  Jesuits  that  were 
settled  here,  were  reduced  to  great  distress  by  the  suppres- 
sion of  their  order  in  Europe ;  and  in  1777  this  mission 
was  intrusted  to  the  superintendence  of  the  College  des 
Missions  Etrangeres  in  Paris.  They  have  never  educated 
native  missionaries  for  Tanjore  and  Madura,  as  is  stated 
by  Father  Paulin  :  indeed  the  Jesuits  of  Pondichcrry  em- 
ployed only  Europeans ;  and  it  is  only  since  1780  that 
natives  have  been  educated  here  for  the  priesthood.  There 
is  at  present  a  small  seminary  for  European  children,  and 
another  for  the  native  clergy.  The  government  contribute 
towards  the  support  of  the  former,  and  the  latter  is  sup* 
ported  entirely  by  the  mission.  They  have  at  present 
thirteen  native  students.  I  believe  they  supply  from  hence 
most  of  the  churches  in  the  northern  circars,  and  in  the 
provinces  of  Mysore  and  Hyderabad. 

The  directors  of  the  French  missions  in  China,  Ton' 
quin,  Cochin- China,  and  Siam,  established  a  seminary  at 
Virumpatam  about  the  year  1770,  in  which  there  were 
generally  forty  students,  natives  of  those  several  kingdoms, 

12 


98 


and  destined,  after  receiving  their  education  there,  to  re- 
turn as  priests  to  their  own  countries.  It  did  not,  however, 
last  more  than  ten  or  twelve  years :  the  expense  was  so 
enormous,  and  the  health  of  the  students  suffered  so  much 
from  being  removed  in  early  youth  to  a  foreign  climate, 
that  the  directors  and  the  vicars  apostolic  were  obliged  to 
abandon  it.  They  afterwards  founded  one  at  Penang, 
which  has  subsisted  for  the  last  twenty-five  years.  But 
neither  of  these  had  any  dependence  on  the  college  of 
Pondiclierry. 

On  my  return  to  Government-house,  I  found  the  Bishop 
had  been  requested  to  confirm  four  young  persons,  the 
children  of  an  English  officer,  deceased,  by  a  French  lady. 
We  went  immediately  to  their  house,  and  he  spent  an  hour 
in  examining  and  conversing  with  them  on  the  subject  of 
religion.  I  was  much  struck  with  the  patience  and  earnest- 
ness of  his  manner  in  this  interesting  service,  and  not  only 
the  ease,  but  the  manifest  delight  with  which  he  left  the 
crowded  party  of  the  governor,  which  was  anxiously  ex- 
pecting his  return,  for  this  unexpected  call  of  duty.  The 
fatigue  of  travelling,  the  excessive  heat,  and  the  constant 
engagements  of  the  day,  had  all  been  extremely  exhausting, 
and  we  have  to  march  at  three  to-morrow  morning ;  yet 
he  did  not  shorten  in  any  degree  what  it  was  right  to  say. 
He  expressed  great  pleasure  in  their  answers  and  general 
appearance,  and,  after  confirming  them,  returned  for  a 
short  time  to  the  Government-house,  and  retired  early  to 
his  tent.  He  has  invited  the  young  officer,  who  came  with 
the  guard  of  honour  this  morning,  to  accompany  us  to 
T anjore. 

March  18th.  A  long  and  sultry  march  brought  us  to 
(,'uddalorc,  where  we  were  hospitably  received  by  Colonel 


99 


IVaser,  at  his  beautiful  villa  of  Mount  Capper.  This  19 
the  f:«  3t  English  station  we  have  visited  since  we  left  Ma- 
dras :  it  is  one  of  those  places  to  which  pensioners  and 
invalids,  who  prefer  a  residence  in  this  country,  are  sent 
to  end  their  days — with  but  little  or  no  restraint  of  military 
discipline,  and  with  too  great  facilities  for  the  indulgence  of 
their  destructive  habits.  There  are  here  at  present  one 
hundred  and  eighty  soldiers,  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
forty  are  Protestants.  Most  of  them  are  married  to  native 
Christian  women  ;  and  Major  Hicks,  the  commanding  offi- 
cer, has  an  excellent  school  for  the  education  of  their  chil- 
dren, which  is  supported  chiefly  by  the  subscriptions  of  the 
resident  families.  About  forty  poor  children  are  thus  re- 
gularly instructed,  and  the  chaplain  of  the  station  could 
scarcely  have  a  better  auxiliary  in  his  intercourse  with  the 
parents,  with  whom  kindness  and  attention  may  yet  do 
much.  The  Bishop  has  been  much  interested  in  the  account 
he  has  received  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Church,  who  was 
formerly  chaplain  here,  and  died  some  time  ago  at  Madras. 
His  simple  and  judicious  instructions,  united  with  great 
kindness  of  manner,  and,  above  all,  the  example  of  his 
own  life,  more  eloquent  than  a  thousand  sermons,  effected 
a  very  considerable  reform  among  the  poor  pensioners, 
and  his  name  is  remembered  by  all  classes  with  affectionate 
respect.  The  field,  therefore,  which  is  actually  in  the  worst 
state,  is  not  always  the  most  hopeless  for  moral  culture. 
The  pensioners'  lines  are  near  the  old  town,  not  far  from 
the  Mission  Church,  and  two  or  three  miles  from  New- 
Cuddalorc,  which  is  the  civil  station.  The  Bishop  has 
been  engaged  in  ascertaining  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Allen, 
the  chaplain,  the  particulars  of  his  own  immediate  charge, 
and  giving  him  directions  for  his  future  conduct,  leaving 


100 


Monday  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  the  affairs  of  the  mission- 
The  chief  persons  of  the  station,  as  well  as  the  two  clergy- 
men, met  the  Bishop  at  breakfast  and  dinner,  and  I  have 
seldom  known  him  enjoy  himself  more  than  he  has  done 
this  evening,  in  a  ramble  over  these  beautiful  grounds,  and 
in  the  conversation  of  our  accomplished  host. 

March  19th.  The  Bishop  preached  in  the  morning  an 
admirable  sermon,  from  Romans  vii.  24,  25,  containing 
many  excellent  remarks  on  that  difficult  chapter,  which 
might  be  of  great  use  to  the  student  in  theology,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  whole  sermon  was  full  of  practical 
benefit  to  the  poor  soldiers,  who  formed  the  bulk  of  the 
congregation.  The  church  is  a  respectable  old  building, 
belonging  to  the  mission,  but  the  accommodations  very 
inconvenient,  and  much  in  want  of  repairs.  The  chaplain 
is  allowed  the  use  of  it  for  the  performance  of  English 
service,  and  on  this  ground,  the  Bishop  intends  to  apply  to 
government  for  a  small  monthly  rent,  as  well  as  for  the 
necessary  repairs  and  alterations.  He  has  given  Mr.  Rosen 
a  plan  for  a  different  arrangement  of  pews  and  benches, 
by  which  it  may  hold  nearly  two  hundred  persons.  It  was 
built  in  1766-7,  from  the  materials  of  Fort  St.  David's, 
the  works  of  which  had  been  destroyed  during  the  war. 
The  church  register  reaches  back  to  the  year  1768. 

In  the  evening  service,  which  the  Bishop  established  to- 
day, and  desired  Mr.  Allen  to  continue,  he  confirmed 
thirteen  candidates,  and  there  was  an  excellent  congrega- 
tion of  soldiers,  whose  attendance  is  altogether  voluntary. 
There  are  two  Tamil  services  for  the  native  Christians ; 
but  their  numbers  appear  very  small,  not  more  than  fifty 
or  sixty  persons,  and  those  chiefly  of  the  serving  or  labour- 
ing classes,  and  the  wives  of  soldiers. 


101 


March  20th.  The  Bishop  lias  passed  a  most  fatiguing 
day  in  the  investigation  of  the  mission  property,  and  devising 
some  plan  for  its  future  improvement.  The  very  neglected 
state  into  which  it  has  fallen  for  many  years,  is  probably  to 
be  attributed  chiefly  to  the  carelessness  and  mismanagement 
of  Mr.  Holzberg,  who  was  suspended  from  his  office,  and 
died  here  in  1824 ;  and  Mr.  Haubroe,  who  immediately 
succeeded  him,  and  Mr.  Rosen,  the  present  missionary, 
have  had  to  contend  with  many  great  difficulties,  among 
which,  the  embarrassment  of  the  public  funds  is  not  the 
ieast.  They  are  burdened  with  debt  to  the  government, 
and  some  part  of  the  landed  property  is  in  sequestration. 

The  resources  which  are  available  for  its  improvement 
are  various,  but  their  aggregate  amount  very  trifling. 
There  are  two  good  mission  houses  adjoining  the  church, 
and  pleasantly  situated  near  the  river.  In  one  of  these 
the  missionary  himself  resides ;  the  other,  in  which  the 
widow  of  Mr.  Holzberg  is  allowed  to  live  during  her  life, 
will  produce  a  clear  profit  to  the  mission  after  her  death. 
There  are  a  few  fields  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  might 
produce  perhaps  150  rupees  per  annum. 

But  that  which  has  most  occupied  the  Bishop's  attention, 
is  an  estate  called  Padre-cottagam  (or  the  minister's  farm,) 
near  Devicottah,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  this  place. 
It  is  an  island  formed  by  the  Coleroon,  and  with  some  little 
expense  and  caie  might  become  a  very  productive  pro- 
perty. It  was  granted  by  the  government  of  Madras  to 
this  mission  in  the  year  17G0,  after  the  battle  between 
Colonel  Coote  and  the  unfortunate  Lully.  The  debt  which 
this  estate  owes  to  government  is  lately  somewhat  reduced  ; 
one-eighth  of  it  is  free  from  taxes,  and  the  remainder  is 
subject  to  a  rent  of  fifty  per  cent.    It  is  calculated  that  it 


102 


might  produce,  if  in  proper  cultivation,  a  clear  income  of 
500  rupees  per  annum.  This  appears  a  very  simple  state- 
ment, now  the  investigation  is  over,  but  it  was  no  easy  task 
for  the  poor  Bishop  to  arrive  at  it  through  all  the  perplexity 
of  accounts,  of  different  measurements,  and  varying  pro- 
duce, from  all  which  jarring  elements  he  succeeded  in 
reproducing  this  unfortunate  glebe.  The  following  memo- 
randum, which  he  afterwards  put  into  my  hands,  though  he 
had  not  time  to  finish  it,  will  best  explain  his  own  wise  and 
benevolent  plans  respecting  it :  "  It  is  not  as  a  source  of 
income,  but  as  the  nucleus  of  a  Christian  agricultural  popu- 
lation, that  this  property  appears  to  me  most  valuable. 
There  is  no  want  of  colonists  of  such  a  description.  A 
considerable  number  from  Tranquebar,  well  recommended 
by  Dr.  Ca;mmerer,  have  applied  for  permission  to  settle 
there;  and  other  industrious  Christian  families  might  be 
easily  selected  from  Cuddalore,  and  perhaps  Tanjore. 
The  space  would  afford  accommodation  and  nourishment, 
as  I  am  informed  by  a  native  tahsildar,  for  fifty  or  sixty 
families.  Give  them  the  land  in  small  lots,  and  on  easy 
terms,  as  tenants  at  will ;  build  a  church  and  fix  a  missionary 
there — and  what  an  opening  would  not  this  give  to  the 
spread  of  the  Gospel !  By  God's  blessing  and  the  help  of 
benevolent  individuals,  other  lands  might  be  purchased  in 
the  same  neighbourhood,  the  parish  would  grow  larger  and 
larger,  and  the  schools,  the  church,  and  every  thing  but 
the  missionary  salary,  might  be  defrayed  by  the  very 
moderate  rent  of  the  cultivators.  These  last,  indeed,  might 
for  some  years  be  only  required  to  pay  the  government 
tax,  and  a  proportionate  rent  on  that  land  which  was  tax- 
free.  They  would  be  thus  encouraged  to  clear  away  jungle, 
repair  dams,  &c. ;  the  property,  now  worthless,  would  get 


into  good  heart;  and  a  population,  now  poor,  dependent, 
and  idle,  would  be  trained  up  in  habits  of  industry  and 
comfort.  It  would  be  necessary,  however,  for  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  to  pay  the  debt  to 
government,  and  to  purchase  the  land  in  question  from  the 
Cuddalorc  mission.  It  will  also  be  necessary  to  advance, 
the  first  year,  a  small  sum  to  the  cultivators  (200  rupees, 
Mr.  Rosen  says,  would  be  abundantly  sufficient;)  and, 
above  all,  to  fix  a  missionary  and  a  catechist  there.  Mr. 
Rosen  also  talked  of  a  headman,  at  a  handsome  salary, 
being  necessary  to  oversee  the  cultivation.  But  I  cannot 
see  why  each  peasant  cannot  cultivate  his  little  lot  for  him- 
self, without  such  a  go-between.  All  disputes  might  be 
referred  to  the  missionary." 

The  same  paper  contains  also  the  following  remark: 
"  The  cultivated  fields  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  place 
are  let  to  Heathens,  though  Mr.  Rosen  complains  that  the 
Christians  are  miserably  in  want  of  employment.  He 
urges,  however,  that  the  Christians,  being  very  poor,  would 
be  wretched  paymasters,  and  that  they  would  be  discon- 
tented if  they  had  not  the  lands  at  a  proportionably  easy 
rent."  He  is  decidedly  of  opinion  that,  wherever  it  is 
practicable,  mission  lands  should  be  occupied  by  Christians, 
even  though  the  funds  may  not  immediately  be  so  much 
benefited  as  they  would  be  by  Heathen  tenants,  considering 
the  advantage  thus  secured  to  the  community,  cheaply  pur- 
chased by  so  trifling  a  sacrifice. 

He  inspected  the  whole  of  the  mission  premises  at  day- 
break this  morning,  and,  besides  the  repairs  and  alterations 
of  the  church,  he  suggested  one  very  material  improvement, 
which  is  thus  noticed  in  his  paper  of  memorandums: — 
"  The  present  school-room  is  a  wretched,  ruinous  buildings 


104 


adjoining  the  church-yard,  and  entirely  unfit  for  its  pur- 
pose. On  the  other  side  of  the  church,  and  so  near  it  as 
to  be  a  dangerous  nuisance,  there  is  a  native  house  and 
garden,  which  might  afford  good  accommodation  for  the 
schools,  school-master,  and  catechist,  and  might  be  pur- 
chased for  seventy-five  pagodas.  This  would  be  a  very 
desireable  acquisition  to  the  establishment,  if  the  money 
could  be  raised." 

On  the  whole,  he  has  felt  much  interested  in  the  future 
capabilities  of  this  mission,  rather  than  its  actual  state,  and 
much  may  be  hoped  from  those  plans  which  he  has  already 
formed  for  its  advancement. 

March  21st.  We  left  our  excellent  host  at  Cuddalore,  and 
made  a  night's  run  to  Chillumbrum — a  mode  of  travelling 
which  the  Bishop  exceedingly  dislikes,  but  it  is  necessary, 
in  order  to  enable  us  to  spend  Easter-day  at  Tanjore.  The 
Bishop  signed  and  despatched  the  Syriac  translation  of  his 
second  letter  to  Mar  Athanasius,  which  I  have  found  some 
difficulty  in  finishing,  in  the  midst  of  such  constant  engage- 
ments. The  heat  in  our  tents  to-day,  with  all  appliances 
of  tatties,  &c,  was  intense;  we  could  not  reduce  it  below 
97°.  This  evening  we  visited  the  stupendous  pagoda  for 
which  this  place  is  famous,  and  which  is  one  of  the  seven* 
of  greatest  renown  in  the  Peninsula.  There  are  four  mag- 
nificent goherams,  or  gateways,  of  pyramidical  form,  and 
about  120  feet  in  height.  They  consist  of  nine  stories, 
covered  with  a  profusion  of  sculptured  figures,  and  sur- 
mounted by  an  oval  dome ;  the  two  lower  stories  are  of 
stone,  (some  of  the  stones  of  immense  size,)  the  rest  of 

*  The  other  six  are  Juggemautli.  Tripady,  Conjeveram,  Seringham. 
Comhaconum.  and  Ramisseram. 


orick  and  chunam.  The  measurement  of  the  whole  struc- 
ture, given  hy  Robertson,  is  very  probably  correct :  1332 
feet  in  one  direction,  and  936  in  another.  The  interior 
courts  are  very  imposing ;  especially  the  first,  in  which  is 
a  splendid  choultry  of  1000  pillars,  consisting  of  two  grand 
rooms  cn  suite,  with  vaulted  roof,  handsome  vestibule,  and 
upper  platform,  to  serve  as  the  throne  of  the  idol  on  its  oc- 
casional excursions  from  the  sanctuary  ;  each  room  having 
fourteen  pillars  in  length,  with  ten  colonnades  on  each  side. 
This  was  the  first  of  the  Southern  pagodas  which  the  Bishop 
had  seen;  and  he  found,  he  said,  abundant  reason  to  con- 
firm him  in  the  favourable  judgment  he  had  formed  of 
Hindoo  architecture,  even  from  the  smaller  specimens  in  the 
.North,  in  opposition  to  the  erroneous  opinions  formed  on 
these  subjects  by  some  late  writers  in  England.*  The  chief 
curiosity,  we  were  told,  of  this  pagoda,  is,  that  it  contains 
in  one  court  a  temple  to  each  of  the  rivals,  Vishnu  and  Siva. 
We  found  them  repairing  several  of  the  domes,  which  are 
covered  with  sheet  brass.  There  are  said  to  be  three  hun- 
dred Bramins  attached  to  the  establishment,  and  our  party 
was  followed  by  at  least  that  number  of  clamorous  beggars. 

March  22d.  We  rode  thirteen  miles  to  Shecally,  where 
we  found  an  excellent  travellers'  bungalow.  The  Bishop 
received  a  letter  from  a  clergyman  on  the  Nilgherries, 
mentioning  the  increasing  violence  of  Mar  Athanasius,  but 
that  "  some  of  the  cantanars  (or  priests)  have  renounced 
the  authority  of  their  own  metrans,  and  joined  the  stranger, 
and  that  the  whole  body  of  the  people  are  intimidated 
by  his  anathemas,  and  the  superior  authority  with  which 

*  See  Mill's  History  of  India,  B.  ii.  c.  8,  aud  his  authorities.  See 
also  Bishnp  Helper's  Journal,  ii.  3C8. 

K 


m 

they  suppose  him  to  be  invested  by  the  patriarch.1'  His 
lordship  remarked,  when  he  showed  me  the  letter,  that  the 
only  conceivable  motive  for  any  number  of  the  clergy  and 
people  to  submit  to  the  pretensions  of  a  stranger,  and  one 
of  violent  and  tyrannical  character,  in  preference  to  their 
own  countrymen,  the  native  bishops,  whom  they  had  long 
known  and  respected,  was  a  deep  conviction  that  the  au- 
thority under  which  he  acted  was  paramount,  and  super- 
seded all  other.  The  chief  secretary  to  government  en- 
closes a  letter  from  the  resident  in  Travancore,  (who  is 
now  on  the  Nilgherries,)  saying  that  "the  new  priests  from 
Antioch"  are  so  violent  and  contemptuous  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  country,  that  he  has  authorized  the  devan  to 
send  them  away,  but  that  he  had  not  yet  heard  that  they 
are  gone.  The  Bishop,  who  feels  the  utmost  grief  at  this 
intelligence,  wrote  immediately  to  the  resident,  begging  him 
to  suspend  this  order  till  he  himself  can  arrive  at  Coli/am, 
and  the  real  sentiments  of  the  people  can  be  ascertained. 
While  we  were  in  Madras,  the  Bishop  laid  his  view  of  the 
subject  before  the  governor.;  who  requested  him  to  take  such 
steps  as  he  thought  fit  for  the  arrangement  of  these  unhappy 
differences,  and  authorized  him  to  promise  the  payment  of 
his  salary  on  the  part  of  government  to  the  foreign  metro- 
politan, who  might  then  reside  amongst  them  as  the  chief 
in  power,  but  without  prejudicing  the  native  bishops,  whose 
Episcopal  ordination  was  undoubted,  and  to  whom  he  would 
naturally  delegate  the  actual  government  of  the  churches  as 
his  suffragans. 

Had  the  first  letter  to  Mar  Athanasius  from  our  Bishop, 
recognising  his  claim,  been  delivered  when  he  sent  it,  it 
would  have  had  the  effect  of  suspending  these  measures, 
which  there  is  every  reason  to  apprehend  will  now  be  pre* 


107 


cipitated,  and  the  power  with  which  he  is  invested  for  me- 
diating and  reconciling  the  two  factions  be  unhappily  neu- 
tralized. If  the  resident's  order  has  not  yet  been  enforced, 
all  may  yet  be  healed,  and  the  rupture  with  Antioch  avoided. 
If  otherwise,  I  fear  the  mischief  will  be  irremediable  ;  for 
the  view  which  the  Bishop  takes  of  the  matter  is  this:  the 
Syrian  churches  in  Malabar  form  a  diocese  subject  to  the 
Patriarch  of  Antioch,  who  has  been  in  the  habit,  from  time 
to  time,  of  sending  bishops  with  full  powers  from  himself 
to  direct  their  ecclesiastical  polity,  and  to  consecrate  others 
at  their  discretion.  It  was  in  this  character  that  Bishop 
Heber  recognised  Mar  Athanasius  at  Bombay,  after  a  care- 
ful examination  of  his  credentials,  and  subsequently  in  his 
two  letters.  He  does  not  doubt  that  his  conduct  has  been 
violent  and  unjustifiable,  but  it  remains  to  be  seen  how 
much  this  has  been  caused  by  opposition  to  his  just  claims ; 
and,  however  much  he  deplores  this  conduct,  he  sees  the 
necessity  of  separating  between  the  personal  character  of 
the  man  and  the  office  with  which  he  is  invested.  He  hopes 
to  be  able  to  moderate  the  one,  while  he  is  only  performing 
an  act  of  justice  in  acknowledging  the  other.  As  to  a  vio- 
lent separation  from  Antioch,  to  whom  they  owe  allegiance, 
he  thinks  it  would  be  injurious  to  their  character,  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Heathen  nations,  and  to  their  own  self-respect. 
If,  indeed,  the  body  of  their  Church  were  reformed,  the  case 
would  be  widely  altered  ;  but  there  is  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  daughter  is  as  corrupt  as  the  mother;  and 
this  quarrel  is  not  one  of  reformation,  as  in  our  case  with 
the  Church  of  Rome,  but  of  legitimate  authority.  The 
Bishop's  hope  is,  that  the  improvement  gradually  produced 
in  Malabar  by  the  friendly  labours  of  our  missionaries, 
may  extend  its  influence  back  to  Antioch,  while,  at  the 


10S 


same  time,  it  prepares  them  to  be  the  most  efficient  means 
of  extending  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  country,  where 
they  are  respected  by  the  Heathen,  as  a  dependence  on  a 
most  ancient  and  venerable  communion.  He  dreads  any 
thing  like  interference  on  the  part  of  our  missionaries ;  and 
intends,  if  he  sees  any  danger  of  this  being  even  suspected, 
to  remove  them  for  a  time  to  some  other  station,  till  every 
thing  is  amicably  arranged.  Entire  neutrality  in  these  in- 
ternal discussions  is  the  only  ground  on  which  the  Church 
of  England  can  maintain  the  good  faith  to  which  she  was 
pledged,  when  she  first  established  this  mission  in  the  heart 
of  a  neighbouring  and  independent  church.  As  far  as  the 
f  Ieathen  government  of  Travancore  is  concerned,  the  only 
question  of  any  importance  is,  what  bishop  has  received  the 
suffrages  of  the  Church;  for  they  have  the  right,  by  ancient 
charter  from  the  kings  of  Travancore,  to  choose*  their  own 
bishops,  who,  in  consequence  of  that  election,  are  recog- 
nised as  supreme  among  them  by  the  existing  government. 
Tt  appears  that  the  will  of  the  Church,  on  the  present  ques.- 
lion,  was  expressed  in  full  convocation  on  December  25th, 
1825;  and,  if  this  be  true,  all  that  is  further  necessary  is 

*  The  manner  of  their  election  of  a  new  bishop  is  by  casting  lots, 
after  the  example  of  the  apostles  in  the  designation  of  Matthias,  Acts  i. 
'l?>.  Two  are  nominated,  and  the  choice  between  them  solemnly  refer- 
red to  God,  by  casting  lots  at  the  altar.  "  In  Spain  this  was  once  the 
common  practice,  as  may  be  concluded  from  a  canon  of  the  Council  of 
Harcdmia,  A.  D.  599,  which  orders  that,  when  a  vacant  see  is  to  be  filled, 
two  or  three  shall  be  elected  by  the  consent  of  the  clergy  and  people, 
who  shall  present  them  to  the  metropolitan  and  his  fellow  bishops,  and 
they,  having  first  fasted,  shall  cast  lots,  leaving  the  determination  to 
Christ  the  Lord.  Then  he  on  whom  the  lot  shall  fall  shall  be  consum- 
mated by  the  blessing  of  consecration."  Bingham  Orig.  Eccles.  B.  iv. 
c.  i.  Instances  of  this  custom  in  the  Syrian  Church  may  be  jf. 
Asseman  Biblioth.  Orient,  iii.  200,  202,  234. 


109 


the  ofiicial  communication  of  it  to  the  devan,  and  to  the- 
British  resident. 

March  23d.  A  ride  of  thirteen  miles  through  a  richly 
cultivated  and  very  populous  country,  brought  us  to  Mrja- 
veram,  where  we  expected  to  find  nothing  but  a  bungalow 
to  shelter  us  during  the  heat  of  the  day;  but  we  had  just 
separated  after  breakfast,  when  the  Bishop,  who  was  sitting 
alone  in  the  hall,  reading  his  Greek  Testament,  was  agree- 
ably surprised  by  a  visit  from  a  German  clergyman.  He 
supposed  at  first  he  was  a  traveller,  but  found  that  he  was 
a  missionary  in  connexion  with  the  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety, and  stationed  here  in  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  thirty 
schools,  which  he  has  lately  established.  Strange  to  say, 
no  one  had  mentioned  to  his  lordship,  Mr.  Barenbruck  or 
his  mission.  He  spent  the  day  with  us;  and  in  the  after- 
noon, before  we  began  our  evening  march,  the  Bishop 
visited  the  mission  house  and  schools,  which  are  built  in  a 
noble  compound  and  with  a  great  degree  of  comfort.  The 
mission  is  at  present  in  its  infancy,  but  Mr.  B.  has  happily 
attached  to  him  John  Devasagayam,  one  of  the  best  cate- 
chists  in  the  service  of  any  mission,  and  whose  fidelity  and 
Christian  character  will  be  of  great  value  in  the  formation 
of  his  Church.  We  halted  to-night,  after  a  second  march 
of  twelve  miles,  at  the  village  of  Trevalcngoddy ;  Mr. 
Barenbruck  accompanying  us  in  our  journey  to  Tcmjore. 
I  took  the  liberty  of  suggesting  to  the  Bishop,  the  good  that 
might  result  from  a  letter  of  friendship  to  Mar  Philoxenus, 
the  elder  of  the  two  native  bishops  in  Travancore,  a  vene- 
rable old  man,  who  has  lately  lived  in  retirement  in  the 
North,  leaving  the  active  superintendence  of  the  diocese  to 
Dionysius,  the  younger.  He  wrote  it  immediately,  and 
gave  it  me  for  translation. 

K2 


110 


We  expected  to  have  passed  Good-Friday  alone  in  oar 
tents,  but  were  agreeably  surprised,  on  arriving  at  Comba- 
conum,  to  find  it  the  residence  of  a  sub-collector;  and, 
though  the  Bishop  was  expected  to  pass  through  in  the 
night,  yet  the  necessary  preparations  were  soon  made  for 
divine  service,  and  he  had  a  congregation  of  twenty  or 
thirty  persons,  among  whom  were  several  native  Christians 
who  understood  English.  Mr.  Mead,  a  dissenting  minister 
in  connexion  with  the  London  Missionary  Society,  very 
kindly  sent  the  desk  from  his  own  chapel  for  the  Bishop's 
use,  and  attended  the  service  himself.  He  enclosed  to  his 
lordship  a  statement  of  his  schools  and  other  plans  of  use- 
fulness, in  which,  however,  he  has  not  met  with  the  success 
he  anticipated ;  but  his  own  spirit  and  conduct  are  highly 
honourable.  There  is  also  a  congregation  here  of  thirty- 
six  Christians  belonging  to  the  Tanjore  mission,  a  good 
chapel,  with  an  English  and  Tamil  school,  but  no  resident 
catechist.  The  missionaries  visit  them  occasionally,  and, 
in  their  absence,  the  prayers  are  read  by  the  schoolmaster. 

The  town  is  large  and  populous,  having  been  the  seat  of 
the  ancient  Chola  dynasty,  whence  the  whole  coast  acquired 
the  name  of  Cholamandel,  since  corrupted  into  C oromandel. 
There  are  some  ruins  of  the  palace  still  visible,  and  two 
'splendid  pagodas,  whose  stately  gateways  exhibit  the  usual 
disgusting  ornaments  of  their  sensual  and  polluted  worship. 
These  are  generally  confined  to  the  lower  stories,  and  the 
Bramins  attempt  to  ground  on  this  circumstance  a  wretched 
defence  of  such  revolting  representations,  as  if  it  was  in- 
tended to  teach  the  vulgar,  that,  from  the  enjoyment  of 
animal  pleasures,  the  lowest  condition  of  man's  nature,  they 
wmst  gradually  ascend  to  intellectual  and  spiritual  attain- 
ments.   If  this  is  any  thing  more  than  a  mere  subterfuge,  is 


Ill 


order  to  excuse  in  our  eyes  what  they  cannot  exhibit  with- 
out some  feelings  of  natural  shame,  it  betrays  at  once  the 
sensuality  and  grossness  of  their  moral  system,  and  their 
total  ignorance  of  the  principles  of  human  nature.  The 
Bishop  remarked  the  frequency  of  these  sculptures  in  the 
south  of  India,  while  there  is  scarcely  an  instance  of  them 
in  the  northern  provinces,  as  a  very  curious  point  of  dis- 
tinction ;  and  also  the  smallness  of  the  buildings  in  the 
latter,  and  their  stupendous  size  in  the  former. 

March  25th.  We  went  to  bed  in  our  palanquins,  which 
the  bearers  took  up  at  midnight  and  brought  us  to  Tanjorc 
(twenty-two  miles)  at  day-break,  where  we  met  with  the 
kindest  welcome  from  the  resident,  Captain  Fyfe,  and  his 
lady.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Kohlhoff  and  Sperschneider,,  the 
missionaries  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge, waited  on  the  Bishop  in  the  morning,  and  received 
his  directions  for  the  service  of  to-morrow.  The  venerable 
appearance  of  the  former  strongly  recalled  to  our  minds 
the  striking  and  well  known  expression  of  Bishop  Middle- 
ton  when  he  parted  from  him  ten  years  before,  and  received 
his  blessing.*  He  has  now  completed  nearly  half  a  century 
of  Christian  labour  in  India  ;  and  the  simplicity  of  his  man- 
ners and  character  are  exactly  what  you  would  expect  to 
see  in  a  pupil  and  follower  of  Swartz.  Dr.  Caemmerer  also 
and  Mr.  Schreyvogel,  the  Danish  missionaries,  arrived  from 
Tranquebar  to  meet  the  Bishop.  He  was  particularly 
anxious  to  see  these  gentlemen,  to  ascertain  their  senti- 
ments on  the  great  question  of  caste ;  and,  not  being  able 
himself  to  visit  their  mission,  begged  them  if  possible  to 

*  "  The  Bishop  (according  to  his  own  expression,)  considering  Mr. 
Kohlhoff's  character,  could  not  help  feeling  that  the  less  icas  blessed  of 
the  greater.'1   Bouney's  Memoirs,  p.  43. 


112 


meet  him  here.  His  letter*  to  Mr.  Schrcyvogel  from  ChiU 
lumbrum  contains  several  excellent  inquiries  and  remarks 
upon  the  subject,  on  which  arrangement  of  thought  and 
freedom  from  prejudice  appear  particularly  difficult. 

After  dinner  the  Bishop  walked  over  the  premises  of  the 
mission,  visited  Swartz's  chapel,  hallowed  by  the  grave  of 
the  apostolic  man,  and  copied  the  inscription  on  the  stone 
which  covers  it,  interesting  as  being  the  composition  of  the 
rajah  himself,  and  certainly  the  only  specimen  of  English 
verse  ever  attempted  by  a  prince  of  India.  He  was  par- 
ticularly pleased  with  the  natural  simplicity  of  expression  in 
the  last  lines. 

SACRED  TO  THE  MEMORY 

OF  THE 

REVEREND  CHRISTIAN  FREDERICK  SWARTZ, 

MISSIONARY  TO  THE  HONOURABLE  SOCIETY 

FOR  PROMOTING  CHRISTIAN  KNOWLEDGE 
IN  LONDON, 

WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE 

ON  THE  13th  OF  FEBRUARY,  1798, 

AGED  71  YEARS  AND  4  MONTHS. 

Firm  wast  thou,  humble  and  wise, 
Honest,  pure,  free  from  disguise ; 
Father  of  orphans,  the  widow's  support, 
Comfort  in  sorrow  of  every  sort; 
To  the  benighted  dispenser  of  light, 
Doing  and  pointing  to  that  which  is  right; 
Blessing  to  princes,  to  people,  to  me ; 
May  I,  my  father,  be  worthy  of  thee ! 
Wishes  and  prayeth  thy  Sarabojee. 

The  chapel  is  of  the  simplest  order,  with  a  semicircular 
recess  for  the  altar  at  the  east  end :  the  tomb  of  Swartz  is 
just  before  the  reading-desk,  in  front  of  the  altar.  Before 

*  Vide  Appendix. 


113 

the  southern  entrance  are  the  trees  under  which  the  vener- 
able father  used  to  sit  and  receive  the  reports  of  the 
catechists,  and  examine  the  children  just  before  the  daily 
evening  service.  Immediately  adjoining  the  chapel  was 
Swartz's  cottage,  on  the  site  of  which,  but  considerably 
enlarged  from  the  former  foundations,  Mr.  Sperschneider 
has  built  a  house,  which  would  be  an  excellent  rectory  in 
England.  The  mission  garden  is  very  large,  and  we  saw 
there  many  native  Christians,  among  whom  one  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Bishop  as  one  of  the  few  who  have  offices 
under  government :  he  is  a  writer  in  the  rajah's  service. 

March  26th,  Easter-Day.  The  Bishop  preached  this 
morning  in  the  Mission  Church  in  the  fort,  all  the  clergy 
present  assisting  in  the  service.  His  text  was  from  Reve- 
lation i.  IS :  /  am  He  thai  livcth,  and  teas  (had;  and 
behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Many  of  the  native 
Christians  who  understood  English  were  there,  and  en- 
treated his  lordship,  after  the  service,  that  he  would  allow 
them  a  copy  of  his  sermon.  He  promised  to  make  some 
alterations  in  the  style,  so  as  to  bring  it  nearer  to  their 
comprehensions,  and  have  it  translated  for  them  into  Tamil. 
I  assisted  him  in  the  administration  of  the  sacrament  to 
thirty  communicants  of  the  English,  and  fifty-seven  of  the 
native  congregation  ;  to  each  of  the  latter  we  repeated  the 
words  in  Tamil.  The  interest  of  this  service,  in  itself 
most  interesting,  was  greatly  heightened  by  the  delight  and 
animation  of  the  Bishop,  the  presence  of  so  many  mission- 
aries, whose  labours  were  before  us,  and  all  the  associations, 
of  the  place  in  which  we  were  assembled,  built  by  the 
venerable  Swartz,  whose  monument,  erected  by  the  affec- 
tion of  the  rajah,  adorns  the  western  end  of  the  church. 
The  group  ia  white  marble,  by  Flaxman,  represents  tht> 


114 


good  man  on  his  death-bed,  Gericke  standing  behind  him, 
the  rajah  at  his  side,  two  native  attendants,  and  three 
children  of  his  school  around  his  bed.  I  did  not  learn  who 
wrote  the  inscription ;  which,  though  not  perhaps  all  one 
might  have  wished  on  such  a  subject,  yet  records  with  strict 
propriety  and  truth  the  singular  homage  paid  to  his  high 
character  by  contending  princes,  and  the  influence  of  his 
counsels  in  the  settlement  of  the  principality.  This  was 
also  gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  Court  of  Directors,  in 
the  monument  raised  to  his  memory  in  the  Fort  Church  at 
Madras. 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE 

REVEREND  CHRISTIAN  FREDERICK  SWARTZ, 

Bom  at  Sonuenburg  of  Neumark,  in  the  kingdom  of  Prussia, 
the  26th  of  October,  1726, 

AND  DIED  AT  TANJORE  THE  13th  OF  FEBRUARY,  1798, 
IN  THE  72d  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGE. 

DEVOTED  FROM  HIS  EARLY  MANHOOD  TO  THE  OFFICE  OF 

MISSIONARY  IN  THE  EAST. 

THE  SIMILARITY  OF  HIS  SITUATION  TO  THAT  OF 

THE  FIRST  PREACHERS  OF  THE  GOSPEL, 

PRODUCED  IN  HIM  A  PECULIAR  RESEMBLANCE  TO 
THE  SIMPLE  SANCTITY  OF  THE 

APOSTOLIC  CHARACTER. 

«\S  NATURAL  VIVACITY  WON  THE  AFFECTION, 

AS  HIS  UNSPOTTED  PROBITY  AND  PURITY  OF  LIFE 
ALIKE  COMMANDED  THE 

REVERENCE  OF  THE 
CHRISTIAN,  MAHOMED  AN,  AND  HINDU  ] 

FOR  SOVEREIGN  PRINCES,  HINDU  AND  MAHOMEDAN, 
SELECTED  THIS  HUMBLE  PASTOR 

AS  THE  MEDIUM  OF  POLITICAL  NEGOCIATION  WITH  THE 

BRITISH  GOVERNMENT ; 

AND  THE  VERY  MARBLE  THAT  HERE  RECORDS  HIS  VIRTUES 
WAS  RAISED  BY 
THE  LIBKRAL  AFFECTION  AND  ESTEEM  OF  THE 

RAJAH  OF  TANJORE, 
MA  HA  RAJAH  SERFOJEE. 


115 


This  monument  will  long  remain  a  striking  memorial  of 
the  gratitude  and  veneration  with  which  his  highness  still 
regards  his  friend  and  guardian ;  but  his  best  and  most 
lasting  monument  is  seen  in  the  foundation  and  prosperity 
of  these  Christian  churches,  the  living  witnesses  of  his  faith- 
fulness, and  zeal,  and  wisdom. 

In  the  evening  the  Bishop  attended  a  Tamil  service  in 
the  same  church,  which  was  literally  crowded  with  the  na- 
tive Christians  of  Tanjore  and  the  surrounding  villages, 
many  of  whom  had  come  from  a  considerable  distance  to 
be  present  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Barenbruck,  assisted  by 
a  native  priest,  read  the  prayers,  Dr.  Caemmerer,  from 
Tranquebar,  preached,  and  the  Bishop  delivered  the  bless- 
ing in  Tamil  from  the  altar.  Mr.  Kohlhoff  assured  me  that 
his  pronunciation  was  remarkably  correct  and  distinct,  and 
the  breathless  silence  of  the  congregation  testified  their 
delight  and  surprise  at  this  affecting  recognition  of  their 
churches  as  a  part  of  his  pastoral  charge.  1  desired  one 
of  the  native  priests  to  ascertain  how  many  were  present, 
and  I  found  they  exceeded  one  thousand  three  hundred  ; 
yet,  by  the  judicious  arrangement  of  excluding  the  infants, 
whom  their  poor  mothers  are  in  general  obliged  to  bring, 
there  was  not  the  least  disorder  or  confusion ;  and  I  have 
seen  no  congregation,  even  in  Europe,  by  whom  the  re- 
sponses of  the  liturgy  are  more  generally  and  correctly 
made,  or  where  the  psalmody  is  more  devotional  and  cor- 
rect. The  effect  was  more  than  electric ;  it  was  a  deep 
and  thrilling  interest,  in  which  memory,  and  hope,  and  joy 
mingled  with  the  devotion  of  the  hour,  to  hear  so  many 
voices,  but  lately  rescued  from  the  polluting  services  of 
the  pagoda,  joining  in  the  pure  and  heavenly  music  of  the 
Easter  hymn  and  the  hundredth  psalm,  and  uttering  thp 


lib 


loud  Amen  at  the  close  of  every  prayer.  For  the  last  ten 
years  I  have  longed  to  witness  a  scene  like  this ;  but  the 
reality  exceeds  all  my  expectations.  I  wished  that  some 
of  those  (if  any  of  that  small  number  still  remain)  who 
deem  all  missionary  exertion,  under  any  circumstances,  a 
senseless  chimera,  and  confound  the  humble  and  silent 
labours  of  these  devoted  men  with  the  dreams  of  fanaticism 
or  the  frauds  of  imposture,  could  have  witnessed  this  sen- 
sible refutation  of  their  cold  and  heartless  theories.  The 
Bishop's  heart  was  full ;  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  energy 
of  his  manner,  and  the  heavenly  expression  of  his  counte- 
nance, when  he  exclaimed,  as  I  assisted  him  to  take  off  his 
robes,  "  Gladly  would  I  exchange  years  of  common  life  for 
one  such  day  as  this  I  Some  time  after  he  had  retired  to 
rest,  while  I  was  writing  in  my  bed-room,  which  is  next  to 
his,  he  came  back  to  me  to  renew  the  subject  on  which  his 
thoughts  were  intensely  fixed ;  and  his  often-repeated  ex- 
pressions of  wonder  and  thankfulness  at  the  scenes  of  the 
past  day,  were  followed  by  a  fervent  prayer  for  the  people, 
for  the  clergy,  and  for  himself. 

March  27th.  The  Bishop  held  a  confirmation  this  morn- 
ing in  the  Fort  Church,  at  which  there  were  twelve  Euro- 
pean and  fifty  native  candidates:  Mr.  Kohlhoff  preached 
in  Tamil.  His  lordship  signed  the  Syrian  translation  of 
his  letter  to  Mar  Philoxenus,  and  I  despatched  it  to  the 
senior  clergyman  at  Cotyam,  to  be  delivered.  The  mis- 
sionaries and  their  families  dined  at  the  residency  to  meet 
the  Bishop,  and  at  seven,  after  our  evening  drive,  we 
attended  a  Tamil  service  at  Swartz's  chapel  in  the  mission 
garden,  when  there  were  present  nearly  two  hundred  na- 
tives and  seven  clergymen.  He  had  received  no  previous 
intimation  of  this  service,  but  the  manner  in  which  he 


117 


seized  on  the  opportunity  thus  unexpectedly  offered  of  a 
visitation  strictly  missionary,  was  more  touching  and  im- 
pressive than  any  previous  preparation  could  have  made 
it.  He  sat  in  his  chair  at  the  altar  (as  he  usually  does  in 
every  church  except  the  cathedral;)  and  after  the  sermon, 
before  he  dismissed  them  with  his  blessing,  he  addressed 
both  missionaries  and  people  in  a  strain  of  earnest  and 
affectionate  exhortation,  which  no  ear  that  heard  it  can 
ever  forget.  We  were  standing  on  the  graves  of  Svvartz 
and  others  of  his  fellow-labourers  who  are  gone  to  their 
rest,  and  he  alluded  beautifully  to  this  circumstance  in  his 
powerful  and  impressive  charge.  As  this  was  probably  the 
last  time  that  he  could  hope  to  meet  them  again  in  public, 
he  exhorted  them  to  fidelity  in  their  high  office,  to  increas- 
ing diligence  and  zeal,  to  a  more  self-denying  patience 
under  privation,  and  neglect,  and  insult,  looking  for  the 
recompense  of  reward  ;  and  lastly,  to  more  earnest  prayer 
for  themselves  and  the  souls  committed  to  their  trust,  for 
the  prince  under  whose  mild  and  equal  government  they 
lived,  and  for  him,  their  brother  and  fellow-servant.  The 
address  was  short  and  very  simple,  but  no  study  or  orna- 
ment could  have  improved  it.  It  was  the  spontaneous 
language  of  his  own  heart,  and  appealed  at  once  to  ours. 
The  impression  of  it,  I  trust,  will  never  be  effaced. 

Dr.  Hyne,  our  medical  attendant,  has  been  for  some 
days  indisposed,  and,  since  our  arrival  here,  has  grown 
rapidly  worse.  The  Bishop  has  particularly  requested 
Captain  Fyfe  to  allow  him  to  be  removed  to  a  room  ad- 
joining his  own,  that  it  may  be  more  in  his  power  to  attend 
to  him,  particularly  at  night,  than  he  could  otherwise  do ; 
and,  even  in  the  midst  of  his  constant  engagements  here, 
lie  has  snatched  many  intervals  to  sit  with  him,  and  read 

L 


118 


and  pray  by  iiis  bed-side.  He  was  twice  with  him  ih  tlic 
course  of  last  night. 

March  28th.  The  Bishop  paid  a  visit  of  ceremony  to 
(he  rajah,  accompanied  by  the  resident,  and  attended  by 
all  the  clergy.  We  were  received  in  full  durbar,  in  the 
great  Mahratta  hall,  where  the  rajahs  are  enthroned.  The 
scene  was  imposing,  and,  from  the  number  of  Christian 
clergymen  in  the  court  of  a  Hindoo  prince,  somewhat 
singular :  the  address  and  manners  of  his  highness  are,  in 
a  remarkable  degree,  dignified  and  pleasing.  The  Bishop 
sat  on  his  right,  the  resident  next  to  his  son  on  his  left,  and 
the  rest  of  the  party  on  each  side  in  order.  He  talked 
much  of  "  his  dear  father,"  Swartz,  and  three  times  told 
the  Bishop  he  hoped  his  lordship  would  resemble  him,  and 
stand  in  his  room.  Perhaps  few  things  from  the  mouth  of 
an  Eastern  prince,  with  whom  compliment  to  the  living  is 
generally  exaggerated,  could  show  more  strongly  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  affection  for  the  friend  he  had  lost.  The 
openness  of  his  gratitude  and  reverence  for  the  Christian 
missionary  in  the  midst  of  his  Bramins,  and  himself  still 
constant  in  his  own  religion,  is  admirable  ;  and  if  on  some 
occasions  it  be  a  little  too  prominent,  who  would  not  par- 
don and  even  love  a  fault  which  is  but  the  excess  of  a 
virtue?  He  was  his  pupil  from  the  time  he  was  twelve 
years  old  till  he  was  twenty-four,  and  succeeded  to  the 
musnud  the  year  after  Swartz  died*  M  And  John  Kcrfil- 
hoff,"  said  he,  "  is  a  good  man,  a  very  good  man  ;  we  are 
old  school-fellows."  The  Bishop  thanked  him  for  his  uni- 
form kindness  to  his  poor  Christian  subjects  and  their 
teachers.  He  said  it  was  hut  his  duty,  and  he  trusted  all 
his  subjects  knew  that  he  was  their  friend  and  protector. 
iHe  thanked  his  lordship  for  his  goodness  in  preaching  td 


119 


them  in  Tamil  (alluding  to  his  having  pronounced  the 
blessing  and  administered  confirmation  in  that  language,) 
and  regretted  it  was  not  possible  for  him  to  attend.  I 
understood  afterwards  from  the  resident  that  he  would 
certainly  have  done  so,  had  the  visits  been  exchanged 
before.  He  added,  that  the  next  time  he  visited  Tanjore, 
he  hoped  he  would  be  able  to  preach  in  Mahratta  also. 
Hearing  from  the  Bishop  that  I  came  from  Poona,  he 
asked  me  if  I  understood  Mahratta,  and  talked  with  in- 
terest about  that  country  of  his  ancestors,  and  especially  of 
the  events  of  the  late  war.  Much  of  the  conversation  na- 
turally turned  on  the  pilgrimage  he  had  lately  made  to 
Benares,  and  the  Bishop's  northern  journey  supplied  him 
with  many  topics  which  were  equally  familiar  to  both. 
Upon  his  lordship's  admiring  the  hall  in  which  we  were 
sitting,  he  showed  considerable  information  on  the  subject 
of  architecture,  and  the  comparative  excellencies  and  pe- 
culiarities of  the  Hindoo  and  Mussulman  styles.  At  parting, 
he  requested  the  Bishop  to  come  again  privately  to  see  his 
library,  museum,  and  printing-press.  On  the  whole,  much 
as  we  had  heard  of  this  celebrated  person,  we  found  our 
anticipations  had  not  been  raised  too  high.  Much,  doubt- 
less,  of  the  interest  excited  before  we  saw  him,  sprung  from 
the  hallowing  and  endearing  associations  with  the  name  of 
Swartz,  which  in  Heathen  India,  or  the  nations  of  Chris- 
tendom, must  ever  be 

Magnum  et  venerabih  nomen  : 
but  .his  manners  and  conversation  have  many  charms  of 
themselves,  unconnected  with  these  circumstances  ;  and  the 
Bishop  said,  as  we  returned  from  the  palace,  "  I  have  seen 
many  crowned  heads,  but  not  one  whose  deportment  was 
more  princely." 


120 


"The  rest  of  the  morning  was  spent  in  various  local  ar- 
rangements and  communications  with  the  missionaries ; 
and  hearing  with  surprise  that  no  distinct  petition  had 
hitherto  been  offered,  according  to  the  apostolic  injunction, 
in  their  public  services,  for  the  prince  under  whose  govern- 
ment they  lived,  he  composed  the  prayer  of  which  I  send 
you  a  copy,  and  which  he  desired  might  be  immediately 
translated  into  Tamil,  and  henceforth  used  in  all  the 
churches  of  the  province  : — 

"  O  Lord  God  Almighty,  Giver  of  all  good  things,  we 
beseech  thee  to  receive  into  thy  bountiful  protection  thy 
servant  his  highness  the  Maharajah  Sarabojee,  his  family 
:ind  descendants.  Remember  him,  O  Lord,  for  good,  far 
the  kindness  which  he  hath  shown  to  thy  Church.  Grant 
him  in  health  and  wealth  long  to  live ;  preserve  him  from 
all  evil  and  danger;  grant  that  his  son,  and  his  son's  son, 
may  inherit  honour,  peace,  and  happiness ;  and  grant, 
above  all,  both  to  him  and  to  them,  that  peace  which  this 
world  cannot  give — a  knowledge  of  thy  truth  here,  and 
everlasting  happiness  hereafter,  through  thy  Son  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour.  Amtn.'1'' 

In  the  evening  we  had  some  excellent  music  at  the  resi- 
dency, and  the  relaxation  was  as  necessary  to  him  as  it 
was  delightful ;  he  enjoyed  it  exceedingly,  and  was  parti- 
cularly struck  with  the  performance  of  two  Bramins,  who 
accompanied  Mrs.  Fyfe  in  several  difficult  pieces,  and 
afterwards  played  the  overture  in  Samson  at  sight.  But, 
in  the  midst  of  his  evident  enjoyment  of  this  intellectual 
luxury,  his  thoughts  were  fixed  on  higher  and  nobler  objects 
of  interest ;  and,  while  all  around  him  thought  his  ear  only 
was  employed,  his  heart  was  devising  plans  for  the  benefit 
of  these  neglected  missions,  and  dwelling  on  the  prospect 


121 

of  their  success,  I  believe  it  is  often  thus,  when  he  is  mo«S 
the  delight  and  admiration  of  society.  He  called  me  to  an 
inner  drawing-room,  to  communicate  a  suggestion  that  had 
just  occurred  to  him,  and  which  he  desired  me  to  carry  into 
effect.  We  were  standing  by  an  open  window,  looking 
out  upon  the  garden,  over  which  the  moon  had  just  risen. 
I  know  not  why  I  should  tell  you  these  trifling  circum- 
stances, but  the  scene  with  all  its  features  will  never  be. 
effaced  from  my  recollection.  It  is  fixed  for  ever  in  my 
remembrance  by  the  powerful  spell  of  his  noble  and  hea- 
venly spirit,  and  the  memorable  sentiment  with  which  our 
conversation  closed.  I  expressed  my  fears  that  his  strength 
would  be  exhausted  by  this  unwearied  attention  to  all  the 
varieties  of  his  great  charge;  adding,  that  I  now  understood 
the  force  of  St.  Paul's  climax — "  That  which  cometh  upon 
me  daily,  the  care  of  all  the  churches."  "  Yes,"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  an  energy  worthy  of  the  apostle  himself — 
"  but  that  which  overwhelmed  him  was  his  crown  and 
glory !" 

March  29th.  The  rajah  returned  the  Bishop's  visit  in 
all  his  state.  He  rode  on  a  very  noble  elephant,  with  a 
common  hunting  howdah,  covered  with  tiger  skins.  Other 
elephants  that  attended  him  had  silver  hwwdahs  with  more 
costly  trappings.  His  two  grandsons,  very  fine  little  boys, 
came  with  him,  and  seem  great  favourites  at  the  residency. 
His  lordship  begged  the  rajah  to  allow  his  son,  a  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  has  been  proclaimed  heir  to  the 
crown,  to  accompany  him  in  his  journey  through  the  pro- 
vinces, promising  to  instruct  him  in  English  as  we  travelled. 
He  replied  that  he  should  accept  the  invitation  with  great 
frratitude,  but  with  far  greater  if  he  would  allow  him  also  to 
accompany  him  in  his  return  to  Bengal^  and  ypend  some 

M 


i 


122 


years  under  his  lordship's  superintendence.  The  Bishop 
gladly  assented  to  the  proposition,  and  offered  him  either 
apartments  in  the  palace,  or  to  procure  a  house  for  him  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Calcutta.  The  rajah  said  he  would 
consult  the  ranee,  who  was  so  fond  of  this  her  only  son,  that 
he  could  determine  nothing  without  her  consent.*  After  the 
visit  was  concluded,  I  attended  his  lordship  to  the  Mission- 
house,  where  he  spent  six  hours  in  close  and  earnest  con- 
sultation on  the  resources  and  plans  of  this  large  and  im- 
portant district.  Dr.  Hyne's  illness  is  more  dangerous,  and 
the  Bishop  spent  a  great  part  of  this  evening  in  his  room. 

March  30th.  The  Bishop  paid  a  private  visit  to  th© 
rajah,  who  received  us  in  his  library — a  noble  room,  with 
three  rows  of  pillars,  and  handsomely  furnished  in  the 
English  style.  On  one  side  there  are  portraits  of  the  Mah- 
ratta  dynasty,  from  Shahjee  and  Sivajee;  ten  book-cases, 
containing  a  very  fair  collection  of  French,  English,  Ger- 
man, Greek,  and  Latin  books,  and  two  others  of  Mahratta 
and  Sanscrit  manuscripts.  In  the  adjoining  room  is  an  air- 
pump,  an  electrifying  machine,  an  ivory  skeleton,  astro- 
nomical instruments,  and  several  other  cases  of  books,  many 
of  which  arc  on  the  subject  of  medicine,  which  was  for  some 
years  his  favourite  study.  He  showed  us  his  valuable  col- 
fection  of  coins,  paintings  of  flowers  and  natural  history, 
with  each  of  which  he  seemed  to  have  considerable  ac- 
quaintance, particularly  with  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the 

"  This  plan,  which  was  so  extraordinary  a  proof  of  the  rajah's  confi- 
dence, and  promised  so  much  benefit  to  the  young  prince  and  his  future 
subjects,  was  relinquished  on  account  of  the  ranee's  objections,  who 
fiad  suffered  so  much  anxiety  from  the  illness  of  her  son  during  his  pil- 
grimage, that  nothing  would  induce  her  to  consent  to  so  long  an  absence 
again. — Vide  Appendix-. 


123 


plants  iu  his  hortus  siccus.  When  \vc  took  our  leave,  his 
minister  showed  us  a  noble  statue  of  the  rajah,  by  Flaxman, 
which  stands  in  the  great  hall  which  was  used  by  the  an- 
cient Hindoo  court,  before  the  conquest  of  the  Mahrattas. 
The  pedestal  is  a  remarkably  large  and  fine  slab  of  black 
granite,  eighteen  feet  by  sixteen  and  a  half.  His  stables 
contain  several  fine  English  horses ;  but  that  of  which  he 
is  most  justly  proud,  as  the  rarest  curiosity  of  an  Indian 
court,  is  an  English  printing-press,  worked  by  native  Chris- 
tians, in  which  they  struck  off  a  sentence  in  Mahratta,  in 
the  Bishop's  presence,  in  honour  of  his  visit. 

On  our  return  from  the  palace,  we  spent  the  rest  of  the 
day,  till  four  o'clock,  at  the  Mission-house.  Of  the  variety 
and  multiplicity  of  the  objects  that  have  this  morning  come 
under  the  Bishop's  consideration,  it  is  impossible  to  give 
you  a  detailed  account ;  and  when  you  remember  that  the 
points  thus  crowded  into  a  few  hours  were  all  new,  and 
many  of  them  involving  questions  of  intricacy  and  delicacy, 
you  will  understand  something  of  the  labours  of  his  office.* 

*  I  subjoin  the  rough  sketch  which  I  wrote  down  from  his  mouth, 
and  which  bears  in  many  places  his  own  additions  and  alterations. 
This  paper  formed  the  basis  of  the  instructions  given  by  his  lordship  to 
the  missionaries  iu  his  letter  of  the  31st,  and  was  the  ground  of  my  sub- 
sequent representations  to  the  government  here,  and  to  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  both  here  and  in  England,  who  were 
anxious  to  carry  into  effect  his  last  wishes,  as  the  best  monument  to  his 
memory.  It  is  a  relic,  therefore,  which  subsequent  events  have  made 
doubly  precious  to  its  possessor. 

1.  The  ordination  of  native  priests — The  qualifications  necessary- 
Let  them  come  to  Madras  on  the  Bishop's  return — Mr.  Kohlhoff 
proposes  examination  by  papers,  separate. 

2.  The  pay  of  native  priests  jC35  per  annum.— 9  S.  pagodas  per 
mensem. 


Tfaa  greatest  difficulty  arose  from  the  embarrassment- 
occasioned  by  the  enormous  expense  of  the  new  Mission- 

j.  Three  recommended, — one  to  the  west,  one  to  south-east,  and 

one  to  Tinnevelly. 
4.  An  old  man  at  Tinnevelly  fit  for  pension — Knowledge  of  S.  S.  and 
eloquence ; — but,  like  Eli,  he  allowed  the  scandalous  conduct  of  his 
son. — Twenty-two  congregations  in  Tinnevelly. 
At  Madura  fifty  or  sixty  Christians — A  catechist  is  fixed  there:  near 
Madura  but  few. 

Proposed  that  the  congregations  in  Tinnevelly  be  transferred  to 
the  Church  Mission  Society,  and  that  in  return  this  mission  take 
charge  of  those  schools  at  Myaveram,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Vepery,  belonging  to  the  Church  Mission  Society. 

The  number  of  transferred  congregations  from  the  Royal  Danish 
Mission,  twelve. 

There  should  be  a  European  missionary  at  Tanjorc,  Trinchino- 
poly,  Madura,  and  Tinnevelly  (if  that  is  kept.) 

At  Ramnad  there  is  a  church  built  by  Colonel  Martin,  and 
which  fell  in  Christmas,  1824;  now  the  collector  and  sub-collector 
propose  to  re-build  it,  for  the  benefit  of  the  mission — Proposed  to 
send  Maliappen  there — In  its  neighbourhood  three  villages  alto- 
gether containing  one  hundred  Christians. 

The  new  natives  ordained,  proposed  to  be  sent  to  Komaraman- 
galum,  Ramnad,  Madura,  (or  Trkhinopoly.) 

Place  the  present  native  priests, — Adeikalum  at  Tanjorc,  Vissa- 
vassanadum  at  Combaemium,  Pakyanadurryxt  Kanandagoddy,  and 
Nellatumby  at  Boodaloor. 

Send  Mr.  De  Mello  to  Madura — The  inhabitants  have  erected 
a  temporary  building,  and  wish  for  a  more  substantial  one. 

Churches  to  be  repaired  at  Boodaloor  and  Poodaputty — Houses 
for  native  priests  at  Boodaloor  and  Kanandagoddy,  500  rupees 
each;  a  temporary  house  at  Madura,  say  100,  Church  money. 

Present  establishment,  three  native  priests  at  £35  each  105 
one  pension  ....  25 


125 


house.  As  it  is  much  larger  than  is  necessary  for  the  com- 
fort of  one  missionary,  and  Mr.  Kohlhoff  resides  in  his  own, 
I  suggested  the  appropriation  of  one  side  to  a  seminary  of 
natives  for  the  priesthood.  Six  students  might  be  sufficient; 
and  such  an  institution  is  indispensable,  as  the  Bishop  has 
determined  to  keep  up  eight  native  priests  for  the  service 
of  this  mission.  Bishop's  College  is  of  too  high  an  order, 
too  distant,  and  too  expensive  for  this  purpose.  He  was 
much  pleased  with  the  proposal,  which  he  immediately  em- 
braced. From  the  house  we  went  to  the  adjoining  chapel, 
on  the  site  of  which  he  authorizes  the  building  of  a  new 
church,  with  part  of  the  very  liberal  sum  allowed  for  this 
purpose  by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge ; 

Travelling  expenses  to  three  native  priests,  at  forty  rupees  each 

per  annum  12 

Repairs  of  chapels,  houses,  &c.       .      .  70 
Twelve  catechists  28  pagodas  per  mensem  95 
Thirty-five  Tamil  schoolmasters,  44,  24,  42. 
Cost  of  house  1900  S.  pagodas         )  3404    35  15 
Buy  houses    1000        .               /  747 
Tiled  verandah  300  (this  Is  new)  (   

)  2657  35  15* 
Of  this  has  been  paid  by  the  mission  497 

250 

747 

Burial  ground  requires  a  wall:  perhaps  government  would  do 

this. 

Thirty-six  "  servants  in  temporal  concerns." 

The  poet  a  proper  person  to  be  recommended  to  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 

The  Bishop  will  endeavour  to  obtain  for  the  missionaries  an 
allowance  of  one  pagoda  per  diem  travelling  expenses,  for  visiting 
the  congregations  while  travelling. 

The  missionaries  and  catechists  in  arrears. 


1-26 


intending  to  apportion  the  remainder  to  different  villages  o:' 
the  district.  He  drew  immediately  a  plan  and  elevation  o* 
the  proposed  building,  keeping  the  present  chapel,  with 
Swartz's  grave,  as  one  side  of  the  transept. 

The  library  contains  some  valuable  books,  chiefly  Ger- 
man and  Latin,  with  a  few  theological  works  in  English ; 
but  it  is  fast  falling  Into  decay,  and  almost  useless  to  the 
mission  in  its  present  state.  A  little  timely  care  might 
save  it,  and  a  few  additions  and  exchanges  of  books  might 
render  it  an  essential  benefit  to  the  establishment.  No  part 
of  this  venerable  institution  gave  the  Bishop  greater  pleasure 
than  the  English  sehools,  both  male  and  female,  which  he 
visited  before  we  left  the  garden. 

March  31st.  The  reverend  missionaries  called  to  take 
their  leave  of  the  Bishop,  and  to  receive  his  instructions. 
These  he  had  previously  drawn  up  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
Mr.  Kohlhoff,  of  which  I  send  you  a  copy  : 

My  dear  Sir, 

I  enclose  a  draft  on  Madras  for  Madras  rupees,  three 
hundred,  of  which  T  will  thank  you  to  dispose  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  instead  of  that  which  I  mentioned  yester- 
day:— 

Benevolent  Society  instituted  by  C.  David    .       .  100 

Mrs.  Martensen   .50 

Poet  30 

Each  of  the  four  native  priests,  30       «       ,  120 

300 

Have  the  goodness  to  inform  the  native  priests  of  the 
necessity  which  there  is  of  their  all  fixing  themselves  at 
the  different  stations  assigned  to  them,  that  houses  will  bo 


127 


built  for  them  at  Komaramangalum,  Boodaloor,  and  Ka^- 
nandagoddy,  to  which  I  will  now  add,  Ramnad  (if  there 
is  no  house  there  already.)  I  will  also  observe,  that  it 
being  desireable  to  plant,  at  all  the  above  stations,  persons 
in  full  orders  and  competent  to  administer  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, it  will  be  necessary  to  send  away  all  who  are  now  in 
orders  (so  soon  as  you  can  spare  them,)  from  Tanjore,  and 
to  supply  the  place  of  him  whom  we  had  destined  for  home 
service,  with  one  of  the  deacons  whom  I  propose,  by  God's 
blessing,  to  ordain  on  my  return  to  Madras.  The  other 
two  deacons  may  be  stationed  at  Madura  and  Trichino- 
poly,  where  houses  may  be  rented  for  them. — Have  the 
goodness  to  inform  the  country  priests  now  in  orders  that  I 
am  enabled  to  promise  each  of  them,  besides  his  house  and 
travelling  expenses,  a  clear  monthly  pay  of  10  pagodas — 
which  1  believe  is  £7  a  year  more  than  they  now  receive. 

The  newly  ordained  deacons  must,  for  the  present,  be 
content  with  the  former  allowance  of  <£35,  to  be  increased 
when  they  shall  be  admitted  into  full  orders. 

You  will  have  the  goodness  to  direct  the  candidates  for 
orders  whom  you  have  recommended  to  me,  to  prepare 
themselves  both  by  prayer  and  study  in  the  time  which  must 
elapse  before  my  return  to  Madras,  of  which  I  will  send  you 
due  notice.    It  will  be  probably  about  the  beginning  of  July. 

Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  make  inquiries  about  the 
present  state  of  the  church  at  Ramnad,  also  of  the  churches 
at  Combaconum,  Kamaramangalum,  Boodaloor,  and  Ka- 
nandagoddy,  what  repairs  will  be  necessary  for  each,  and 
the  estimate  of  expense. 

Wherever  there  is  a  native  priest  stationed,  it  is  highly 
desireable  that  there  should  be  a  decent  place  of  worship. 
The  repairs  of  th?se,  I  should  hope,  may  be  drfrnyed  by 


128 


(lie  ordinary  income  of  the  mission.  Their  erection,  where 
necessary,  I  will  endeavour  to  provide  for,  from  some  other 
quarter. 

I  shall  apply  to  government  to  request  them  to  make  a 
monthly  allowance  of  80  rupees  for  the  performance  of 
English  service  on  Sundays.  Of  this,  10  rupees  may  serve 
to  light  the  church,  and  for  other  trifling  expenses.  The 
remaining  70  will  be  a  small  addition  of  10  pagodas  a 
month  each,  to  the  incomes  of  yourself  and  Mr.  Sper- 
schneider.  I  sincerely  hope  government  will  not  refuse  this 
— I  am  sure  it  is  well  merited  by  you  both.  I  wish  it  were 
in  my  power  to  obtain  you  more.  I  will  write  to  Dr.  Rottler 
on  the  subject  of  the  Mission-house.  By  the  suggestion  of 
making  a  part  of  it  a  place  for  the  education  of  youth,  I 
hope  I  may  be  enabled  to  relieve  Mr.  Sperschneider  from 
his  difficulties. 

Believe  me,  dear  Sir, 

Your  sincere  friend  and  brother  in  Christ, 
(Signed)         REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 
Tanjore,  March  31,  1826. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kohlhoff. 

In  his  visit  to  establish  a  missionary  at  Ramnad,  the 
Bishop  has  a  further  object  beside  the  immediate  care  of  the 
Protestant  congregation  of  that  place  and  the  villages  in  its 
neighbourhood.  The  whole  of  that  coast,  from  Ramnad 
to  Cape  Comorin,  is  inhabited  by  the  tribe  of  Paroors, 
the  only  men  employed  in  the  pearl  fishery,  who  are  all 
Roman  Catholics.  They  amount  to  about  10,000  souls. 
In  temporal  matters  they  are  subject  to  the  jadctallwan, 
or  head  man,  who  resides  at  Tutacorcen,  in  which  place 
alone  there  are  nearly  5000.    In  spiritual  affairs  they  are 


?averned,  but  unfortunately  not  instructed,  by  one  priest 
sent  occasionally  from  Goa,  who  has  frequent  quarrels  with 
the  jadetallivan,  and  is  dreaded  by  the  people  for  his  ex- 
tortion. The  character  of  these  people  is  very  favourably 
described  by  those  who  have  known  them  best,  and  a  better 
opening  could  hardly  be  desired  for  a  prudeM  and  zealous 
missionary.  Surely,  if  these  circumstances  were  known  in 
England,  some  one  might  be  found  willing  to  undertake  so 
interesting  and  extensive  a  charge.  If  the  wants  of  that 
district  alone  could  be  told  in  our  universities,  is  it  possible 
they  could  be  told  in  vain'? 

The  Bishop  had  much  conversation  this  morning  with 
Mr.  Schreyvogel,  the  junior  missionary  from  Tranquebar, 
both  on  the  subject  of  caste  and  on  his  own  future  plans. 
He  wishes  to  be  transferred  to  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  and  the  Bishop  has  desired  him  to, 
accompany  him  to  Triclrinopoly ,  where  he  thinks  of  placing 
him,  if  on  further  intercourse  it  should  appear  desireable, 
and  the  transfer  can  be  effected.  Mr.  Kohlhoff  will  also 
join  our  party. 

We  leave  Tanjore  with  the  sincerest  regret,  and  with  the 
strongest  interest  in  a  spot  so  favoured  and  so  full  of  pro- 
mise. The  Bishop  has  more  than  once  observed  to  me, 
that  instead  of  the  usual  danger  of  exaggerated  reports,  and 
the  expression  of  too  sanguine  hopes,  the  fault  here  was, 
that  enough  had  not  been  said,  and  repeats  his  conviction 
that  the  strength  of  the  Christian  cause  in  India  is  in  these 
missions,  and  that  it  will  be  a  grievous  and  heavy  sin  if 
England  and  the  agents  of  its  bounty  do  not  nourish  and 
protect  the  churches  here  founded.  He  has  seen  the  other 
parts  of  India  and  Ceylon,  and  lie  has  rejoiced  in  the  pros- 
pects opened  of  the  extension  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  many 

M 


130 

distant  places,  and  by  many  different  instruments;  but  lie 
has  seen  nothing  like  the  missions  of  the  South, — for  these 
are  the  fields  most  ripe  for  the  harvest* 

Poor  Dr.  Hyne  continues  so  ill  that  we  are  obliged  to 
leave  him  behind  us,  and,  indeed,  scarcely  a  hope  is  enter- 
tained of  his  recovery.    But  he  has  become  so  much  at- 
tached to  the  Bishop,  in  the  course  of  the  last  week,  that 
lie  cannot  bear  to  relinquish  the  hope  of  rejoining  him. 
His  lordship  has  therefore  promised  to  wait  for  him  a  few 
days  at  Trichinopoly,  in  case  he  should  be  allowed  to  re- 
sume his  journey :  but  this  is  most  improbable.    I  cannot 
help  mentioning  a  beautiful  instance  of  his  piety  and  kind- 
ness, to  which  1  Was  accidentally  a  witness  this  evening,  as 
it  exemplified  so  strongly  his  delight  in  the  humblest  duties 
of  the  pastoral  office,  and  the  characteristic  modesty  that 
seeks  rather  to  conceal  them  from  the  observation  of  others, 
when  no  end  of  charity  is  answered  by  their  being  known. 
The  carriage  in  which  we  were  to  travel  the  first  stage  of 
our  evening  march  was  at  the  door,  and  we  were  about  to 
take  leave  of  our  kind  and  excellent  hosts,  when  the  Bishop 
excused  himself  for  a  moment,  saying  he  must  shake  hands 
once  more  with  his  poor  friend  before  he  left  him.    A  few 
minutes  after,  going  up  stairs  for  a  book  which  I  had  for- 
gotten, and  passing  by  Dr.  Hyne's  open  door,  I  Saw  the 
dear  Bishop  kneeling  by  his  bed-side  and  his  hands  raised 
in  prayer.    You  will  not  wonder  that  I  should  love  this 
man,  seeing  him,  as  I  see  him,  fervent  in  secret  and  indi- 
vidual devotion,  and  at  one  hour  the  centre  of  many  labours, 
the  apostle  of  many  nations,  at  another  snatching  the  last 
moment  to  kneel  by  the  bed  of  a  sick  and  dying  friend, 
who  but  a  fortnight  ago  was  a  perfect  stranger  to  him, 
April  1st.    We  reached  our  tents  at  midnight,  and  ar- 


131 


rived  between  seven  and  eight  this  morning  at  TricMnopoly. 
Many  of  the  principal  residents,  both  civil  and  military,  met 
his  lordship  a  few  miles  from  camp,  and  conducted  us  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Bird,  one  of  the  provincial  judges,  by 
whom  our  whole  party  was  most  kindly  welcomed.  The 
intense  heat  of  the  weather,  and  the  fatigue  we  had  lately 
undergone,  almost  unfitted  us  for  any  exertion;  but  the 
Bishop  was  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  morning  m 
receiving  the  report  of  the  English  congregation,  schools, 
and  hospitals,  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  the  chaplain 
of  the  station,  and  of  the  mission  from  Mr.  Kohlhoff. 
The  head-quarters  of  the  southern  division,  a  king's  regi- 
ment, detachments  of  artillery,  and  the  officers  of  several 
corps  of  native  troops,  beside  the  departments  of  the  civil 
authorities,  make  this  one  of  the  most  important  stations 
under  the  Presidency,  and  it  is  happy  in  the  care  of  its 
present  chaplain  ;  but  the  mission  is  in  a  very  poor  and  de- 
serted state.    It  was  first  founded  by  Swartz,  who  visited 
this  place,  as  well  as  Tanjorc,  in  his  occasional  excursions 
from  Tranquebar ;  and  in  May,  1762,  fixed  his  residence 
here,  dividing  his  labours  between  the  two  missions  for  six- 
teen years,  until,  in  1778,  he  removed  to  the  residence 
which  the  rajah  (Tuljahjee)  assigned  him  in  the  fort  of 
Tanjore,  and  left  the  church  of  TricMnopoly  to  the  care 
of  Mr.  Pohle.    Since  the  death  of  that  excellent  and  vener- 
able pastor,  it  has  depended  on  the  occasional  visits  of  the 
missionaries  of  Tanjorc  y  but  the  distance,  and  their  other 
numerous  engagements  in  their  own  immediate  district, 
make  it  impossible  for  them  to  give  more  than  a  general 
superintendence.    Perhaps,  under  all  circumstances,  it  is 
rather  wonderful  that  it  has  not  suffered  more.  Including 
the  villages  in  the  suburbs,  there  is  a  congregation  of  about 


132 


four  hundred  and  ninety  souls,  under  the  care  of  a  catechist, 
with  one  Tamil  school  and  a  considerable  English  one. 
The  funds  of  this  mission,  which  are  entirely  distinct  from 
those  of  Tanjore,  are  very  small,  not  exceeding  thirty  ru- 
pees a  month.  It  had  been  erroneously  supposed  that  its 
resources  were  rich,  and  more  than  adequate  to  all  de- 
mands; a  mistake  which  arose  from  conceiving  that  the 
vestry  fund,  a  purse  which  had  been  formed  and  supplied 
by  voluntary  contributions  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  gener- 
ally, was  available  for  the  purposes  of  the  mission.  The 
English  school  appears  entirely  supported  by  the  vestry, 
but  is  kept  in  the  school-room  attached  to  the  mission  pre- 
mises in  the  fort. 

The  Eishop  has  given  notice  of  a  confirmation  in  the 
Mission  Church  on  Monday  morning,  and  desired  me  to 
write  to  Mr.  Schrcyvogel,  requesting  him  to  preach  on  that 
occasion.  To  collect  information  on  the  several  resources 
and  wants  of  the  mission,  has  been  more  than  enough  for 
<o-day.  To-morrow  will  be  occupied  entirely  with  the 
English  services. 

April  2d.  The  Bishop  preached  this  morning  to  a 
•  rowded  audience  at  St.  John's,  from  1  John  v.  6:  27/ is  is 
he  that  came  by  water  and  blood,  even  Jesus  Christ;  not 
hy  water  only,  but  by  water  and  blood.  And  it  is  the 
Spirit  that  beareth  witness,  because  the  Spirit  is  truth. 
In  the  evening  service,  he  confirmed  forty-two  of  the  Eng- 
lish congregation  in  the  same  church,  and  delivered  his  ad- 
dress to  them  from  the  pulpit.  He  exerted  himself  greatly 
in  both  services,  more  perhaps  than  was  necessary,  and 
t  omplained  that  the  church  was  very  difficult  for  the  voice 
to  fill,  and  the  pulpit  raised  too  high.  He  has  been  op- 
pressed the  whole  day  by  the  intense  heat  of  the  weather, 


133 


and  anxious,  in  consequence  of  unfavourable  accounts  from 
Calcutta.  On  returning  from  church,  in  the  morning,  I 
was  so  ill  as  to  be  obliged  to  go  to  bed,  and,  with  his  usual 
affectionate  consideration,  he  came  and  sat  the  greater  part 
of  the  afternoon  with  me.  He  read  me  a  letter  he  had 
written  to  Mr.  Fenn,  at  Cotyam,  on  hearing  that  Mar 
Athanasius  has  actually  left  the  country,  but  I  was  too  ill  to 
copy  it  for  him.  Its  general  tenour  was  to  approve  the  en- 
tire neutrality  with  which  he  informed  him  the  missionaries 
had  acted ;  and,  as  matters  now  stood,  to  recommend  the 
Church  in  Malabar  to  write  by  the  hand  of  their  bishops 
to  the  patriarch  of  Antioch,  relating  to  the  events  connected 
with  the  visit  of  his  legate,  and  entreating  him  in  his  choice 
of  future  metropolitans,  to  have  especial  regard  to  gentle- 
ness and  moderation  of  character.  Our  conversation  this 
afternoon  turned  chiefly  on  the  blessedness  of  heaven,  and 
the  best  means  of  preparing  for  its  enjoyment.  He  re- 
peated several  lines  of  an  old  hymn,  which,  he  said,  in  spite 
of  one  or  two  expressions  which  familiar  and  injudicious 
use  had  tended  to  vulgarize,  he  admired  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  in  our  language,  for  a  rich  and  elevated  tone  of 
devotional  feeling. 

Head  of  the  Church  triumphant.' 
We  joyfully  adore  thee, — &c. 

In  the  family  prayers  this  evening,  after  we  returned  from 
church,  he  particularly  mentioned  our  friend  Dr.  Hyne, 
whom  he  told  us  he  had  promised,  at  parting,  that  he  would 
then  always  remember. 

April  3d.    How  shall  I  record  my  feelings  this  sad,  this 
miserable  day ! — I  am  writing  by  the  lifeless  body  of  my 
dear  departed  master  !  Oh,  what  is  man  !  what  in  his  best 
M2 


134 

©state,  when  most  gifted  with  all  that  is  truly  great  and 
admirably!  Here  lies  one  whom  all  loved,  whom  every 
heart  admired  and  cherished  !  One  to  whom  the  eyes  of 
all  in  India,  and  of  thousands  in  England,  were  turned 
with  high-raised  expectations  of  usefulness  in  the  Church 
of  Christ;  and  how  justly! — for  his  whole  soul  was  filled 
with  intense  desire  for  the  glory  of  his  Divine  Master. 
Here  lies  one  who  has  been  the  tenderest,  the  most  affec- 
tionate friend — the  most  condescending,  most  confidential 
— one  whom  I  have  always  loved  most  dearly,  but,  till 
now,  knew  not  how  much  I  loved  him. 

At  six  this  morning  our  dear  Bishop  attended  the  Tamil 
service  in  the  Mission  Church  in  the  fort,  when  he  con- 
firmed eleven  young  persons  of  the  native  congregation, 
and  pronounced  the  blessing  in  Tamil.  After  divine  ser- 
vice, he  visited  the  English  and  Tamil  schools,  and  the 
Mission-house,  which  are  all  immediately  adjoining  the 
church ;  and,  seeing  the  greater  part  of  the  native  Chris- 
tians collected  round  him  while  he  stood  on  the  steps  lead- 
ing to  the  house,  he  addressed  them,  as  Mr.  Kohlhoft" 
afterwards  informed  me,  with  his  characteristic  energy  and 
kindness.  He  exhorted  them  to  be  Christians  not  in  name 
only,  but  in  truth,  and  to  have  their  conversation  honest 
among  the  Heathen  that  surrounded  them ;  promised  that 
he  would  soon  place  a  missionary  among  them,  and  prayed 
God  to  pour  down  his  blessing  upon  them.  He  then  took 
leave  of  Mr.  KohlhofiT  and  Mr.  Wright,  who  had  also 
attended  him,  and  returned  home.  I  had  been  prevented 
by  sickness  from  accompanying  him,  and  Mr.  Doran  had 
taken  that  duty  for  me.  On  his  return,  he  came  immedi- 
ately into  my  room  before  he  took  off  his  robes,  and  stood 
talking  by  my  bed-side  for  half  an  hour,  with  more  than 


135 


his  usual  animation,  on  the  subject  of  the  mission.  He 
said  he  had  been  much  interested  in  all  he  had  seen ;  that 
it  broke  his  heart  to  witness  the  poverty  of  the  congrega- 
tion, which  needed  much  the  constant  care  of  a  vigorous 
and  active  missionary  ;  and  that  having  heard  Mr.  Shrey- 
vogel  preach,  he  was  quite  determined  to  place  him  here. 
He  lamented  that  he  had  previously  had  so  little  informa- 
tion of  the  details  of  the  several  missions  he  visited,  and 
expressed  his  intention  of  requiring,  in  future,  periodical 
reports  from  all  in  every  part  of  the  diocese.  After  some 
particular  arrangements  for  the  morning,  he  left  me,  in 1 
order  to  undress  and  bathe.  He  sat  a  few  minutes,  appa- 
rently absorbed  in  thought,  before  he  went  to  the  bath, 
which  is  a  separate  building,-  a  few  yards  from  the  house, 
and  filled  from  a  spring  considerably  beyond  his  depth. 
He  had  used  it  on  the  two  preceding  mornings,  and  en- 
joyed it  exceedingly.  His  servant,  alarmed  at  his  staying 
beyond  his  usual  time,  and  hearing  no  sound,  opened  the 
door,  and  saw  the  body,  apparently  lifeless,  below  the 
surface  of  the  water.  He  ran  immediately  to  my  room 
and  gave  the  alarm,  with  a  bitter  cry,  that  his  master  was 
dead  !  On  reaching  the  bath,  I  plunged  in,  and  assisted  a 
bearer,  who  was  already  there,  to  lift  the  body  from  the 
water,  and  Mr.  Doran  and  I  carried  it  in  our  arms  to  the 
nearest  room.  Every  possible  means  were  instantly  used, 
but  in  vain  :  the  garrison  and  superintending  surgeons,  who. 
arrived  almost  immediately,  continued  their  attempts  at 
resuscitation  for  a  considerable  time ;  but  all  hope  was 
gone — and  the  blessed  spirit  was  already  before  the  throne 
of  God.  They  give  it  as  their  decided  opinion,  that  his 
death  was  caused  by  apoplexy ;  there  had  probably  been 
a  predisposition  to  it,  which  the  shock  of  the  cold  water 


136 


had  suddenly  brought  on.  All  were  plunged  in  grief.  The 
venerable  and  excellent  Mr.  Kohlhoff  visited  me,  and  his 
almost  passionate  burst  of  sorrow  was  deeply  affecting.  He 
threw  himself  into  my  arms,  weeping  aloud — "  We  have 
lost  our  dear  father  !  we  have  lost  our  second  Swartz,  who 
loved  our  mission,  and  laboured  for  it:  he  had  all  the 
energy  and  benevolence  of  Swartz,  and  greater  conde- 
scension. Why  has  God  bereaved  us  thus  ?"  It  was  long 
before  the  good  man's  grief  was  moderated  ;  I  cannot  won- 
der at  its  violence,  and  I  dare  not  blame  it.  His  hopes 
had  been  raised  to  their  height  by  the  labours  of  unwearied 
love  which  he  witnessed  at  Tanjore,  and  which  he  thus 
described  to  a  friend  yesterday : — "  If  St.  Paul  had  visited 
the  missions,  he  could  not  have  done  more,  excepting  only 
his  power  of  miracles."  And  now,  alas !  all  these  hopes, 
and  a  thousand  others  which  we  fondly  cherished,  arc  gone 
for  ever  !  So  sudden  has  been  the  event,  and  so  serene 
and  heavenly  is  the  expression  of  his  features,  that  I  can 
scarcely  yet  believe  the  reality  of  our  loss :  but  this  is  the 
last  hour  I  shall  pass  by  his  dear  side  in  this  world.  May 
grace  be  given  to  me  that  we  may  meet  again  in  glory ! 

April  4th.  At  sunrise  the  melancholy  procession  moved. 
Minute  guns  were  fired  from  the  fort,  and  the  troops  of  the 
station  formed  a  street  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  from 
Mr.  Bird's  house  to  the  church.*  The  chief  civil  and 
military  authorities  bore  the  pall :  I  followed  as  chief 
mourner,  accompanied  by  Captain  Harkness  commanding 
his  escort,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Kohlhoff,  Doran,  and 
Schreyvogel.  The  sides  of  the  road  were  thronged  with 
thousands  of  natives,  Hindoos  and  Mahometans,  as  well  as 
Christians,  who  crowded  along  the  banks  to  catch  the  sight 

*  Vide  Appendix. 


137 

of  his  bier ;  for  among  all  his  name  was  well  known  and 
deeply  reverenced.  Mr.  Wright  read  the  first  part  of  the 
service,  Mr.  Doran  the  lesson,  and  it  was  my  sad  office  to 
commit  his  dear  remains  to  the  earth.  His  grave  is  on  the 
north  side  of  the  altar  in  St.  John's  Church — the  very  spot 
from  which  he  had  blessed  the  people  but  twelve  hours 
before  his  own  pure  spirit  was  admitted  to  the  blessedness 
of  heaven.  It  required  the  strongest  effort  to  enable  mo 
to  fulfil  this  last  service  to  my  beloved  master ;  I  was  in- 
terrupted frequently  by  the  tears  and  sobs  of  those  around 
me ;  and,  when  I  had  closed  the  book,  hundreds  of  the 
poor  native  Christians  whose  hearts  he  won  yesterday  by 
his  kindness  and  condescension,  crowded  round,  entreating 
to  be  allowed  to  throw  the  earth  upon  his  coffin. 

I  can  never  forget  the  awful  solemnity  of  that  hour.  I 
cannot  yet  believe  the  event ;  it  is  like  the  warning  of  a 
disturbed  and  feverish  dream — but  we  must  soon  awake  to 
the  conviction  of  its  reality  ;  and  not  we  alone  who  enjoyed 
his  confidence  and  affection,  but  a  thousand  hearts  who 
trusted  to  him  as  the  bulwark  of  Christianity  in  India,  and 
reposed  their  hopes  in  the  many  excellencies  that  were 
blended  in  his  matchless  character,  as  the  one  best  fitted 
to  adorn  his  high  station,  and  to  fulfil  the  course  appointed 
him.  His  was  indeed  a  character  that  can  neither  be  too 
widely  known,  nor  too  closely  imitated ;  and,  though  there 
are  times  of  deep  and  overwhelming  sorrow  for  the  myste- 
rious dispensation  that  has  laid  us  low,  there  are  also 
moments  in  which  we  must  all  acknowledge  with  gratitude 
the  distinguishing  favour  that  has  spared  him  to  us  so  long. 
Oh  may  not  one  of  the  many  who  in  happy  England  will 
soon  mourn  over  the  bereavement  of  our  orphan  Church, 
set  sail  for  these  desolate  shores  without  breathing  aa 


138 


earnest  prayer  to  Almighty  God  that  the  mantle  of  Elijah 
may  rest  on  Elisha ;  and  as  one  of  our  noblest  heroes, 
when  entering  upon  his  last  and  most  splendid  action, 
exclaimed,  "  Victory  or  Westminster  Abbey  !"  so  may  his 
eye  be  fixed  with  firm  confidence  and  humble  hope  on  the 
labours  and  the  triumph  of  him  who  has  gone  before,  and 
aspire  with  a  holier  and  more  chastened  ambition  to  the 
grave  of  Trichinopoly  and  Heaven  ! 

It  would  be  but  to  trespass  on  the  indulgence  of  the 
reader,  which  has  accompanied  me  through  these  last 
memorable  days,  to  the  heart-rending  scene  by  which  they 
were  so  abruptly  closed,  did  I  extend  the  extracts  from  my 
journal  beyond  these  limits.  At  the  same  time,  I  feel  it 
would  be  injustice  to  his  memory — to  the  societies  in  whose 
cause  he  might  be  said  to  spend  his  latest  breath — and  to 
this  government,  to  which  I  have  now  the  happiness  to 
belong — did  I  not  record  the  subsequent  tribute  of  universal 
and  affectionate  respect  paid  to  his  memory  by  all  classes, 
in  a  degree  unprecedented  even  in  this  most  liberal  country. 
I  will  briefly  add,  therefore,  the  events  of  the  short  time 
that  intervened  before  my  return  to  Calcutta. 

It  was  spent  in  a  melancholy  journey  through  the  same 
scenes  that  I  had  lately  visited  under  such  different  circum- 
stances, and  in  anxious  endeavours  to  carry  into  effect  his 
plans  and  purposes  for  the  benefit  of  the  missions,  which 
had  engaged  his  latest  cares.  Wherever  I  went,  I  met 
the  same  deep  feeling  of  general  sympathy ;  and  every 
suggestion  of  his  wishes,  however  slight,  was  promptly  met 
by  the  liberality  of  government,  the  aid  of  the  religious 
societies  in  connexion  with  the  Church,  and  the  spontaneous 
exertions  of  all  classes  of  society. 


139 


It  was  my  melancholy  duty,  in  compliance  with  the 
request  made  to  me  by  Mr.  Wright  at  the  grave,  and  the 
generally  expressed  wish  of  the  community,  to  preach  the 
funeral  sermon,  on  the  following  Sunday,  over  my  revered 
and  honoured  friend.    It  was  a  day  never  to  be  forgotten ; 
and  when,  at  the  close  of  it,  I  commended  the  native  con- 
gregation (whose  poverty  he  had  lamented  to  me  with  his 
last  words,  and  for  whose  welfare  he  had  pledged  himself 
to  provide)  to  the  kindness  of  the  British  residents  of  the 
place,  my  voice  was  lost  in  the  sobs  and  tears  of  the  con- 
gregation.   The  suggestion  was  received  with  the  most 
cordial  approbation,  and  the  next  morning  a  public  meet- 
ing* was  held  in  the  church,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a 
fund  for  the  benefit  of  the  Trichinopoly  Church  Estab- 
lishment and  Schools.    The  result,  both  in  the  amount  of 
subscriptions  and  donations,  was  sufficient  to  encourage  our 
sanguine  hopes  for  its  permanent  and  enlarged  support. 
Measures  were  also  immediately  taken,  to  ensure  the 
transfer  of  Mr.  Schreyvogel  from  the  Danish  mission  at 
Tranquebar,  to  the  service  of  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  and  for  his  appointment  to  this 
station,  according  to  the  expressed  intentions  of  the  Bishop 
in  the  last  hours  of  his  life.    The  government  of  Madras 
desired  me,  in  the  handsomest  manner,  to  bring  to  their 
notice  every  proposition  which  he  intended  to  make,  and 
placed  all  the  public  resources  at  my  disposal,  for  the  pro- 
secution of  my  journey,  in  the  fulfdment  of  his  known 
intentions.    And,  besides  several  works  which  the  papers 
in  my  possession  enabled  me  to  recommend  on  his  lord- 
ship's authority,  they  most  liberally  complied  with  my  own 


ViJe  Appendix. 


140 


.suggestions-,  and  gave  immediate  orders  for  the  complete 
repairs  of  the  Mission  Church  in  the  fort,  endeared  to  our 
future  recollections  as  the  scene  of  his  last  earthly  labours. 
They  directed  also  a  marble  to  be  placed  on  his  grave,  and 
a  mural  tablet  in  St.  John's  Church,  to  his  memory,  to  be 
inscribed  as  follows  : — 

SACRED 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OP 

REGINALD  HEBER,  D.D. 

LORD  BISHOP  OF  CALCUTTA, 

WHO  WAS  HERE 
SUDDENLY  CALLED  TO  HIS  ETERNAL  REST, 
DURING  HIS  VISITATION 
OF  THE  SOUTHERN  PROVINCES  OF 
HIS  EXTENSIVE  DIOCESE, 
ON  THE  THIRD  DAY  OF  APRIL, 

A.  D.  MDCCCXXVI. 

AND  IN  THE  THIRD  YEAR  OF  HIS  EPISCOPATE.- 
"  BE  YE  ALSO  READY." 


Before  I  left  Trichinopoly,  I  once  more  paid  a  visit  to 
the  Mission  Church.  I  ascended  at  day-break  the  cele- 
brated rock,  which  is  a  striking  eminence  of  bare  granite 
within  the  fort,  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high, 
commanding  the  country  to  a  considerable  extent,  and 
crowned  with  a  small  pagoda  of  great  sanctity.  The  ascent 
is  chiefly  by  a  broad  covered  way,  built  with  solid  masonry, 
with  occasional  openings  to  the  air ;  and,  the  last  eighty  or 
one  hundred  feet,  the  steps  are  cut  in  the  surface  of  the 
rock,  and  uncovered.  The  view  of  the  country  is  in  one 
direction  extremely  rich ;  the  island  of  Seringam,  whose 
gigantic  pyramids  gave  to  the  whole  scene  a  strong  resenv 
blance  to  the  plains  of  Egypt,  with  its  venerated  pagoda 
of  sevenfold  enclosure,  and  the  branches  of  the  Cavery, 


141 


v/hose  course,  like  that  of  the  Nile,  is  marked  by  the  un= 
rivalled  fertility  of  the  soil  through  which  it  flows. 

This  great  temple,  in  many  respects  the  most  remarkable 
in  India,  stands  about  a  mile  from  the  western  extremity 
of  the  island.  The  walls  of  each  enclosure  are  twenty-five 
feet  high  and  four  thick,  of  solid  masonry.  The  interval 
between  each  enclosure  is  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and 
each  lias  four  large  gates,  surmounted  by  a  lofty  goberam, 
or  pyramidal  tower.  The  outward  wall  is  nearly  four 
miles  in  circumference,  and  the  southern  gate,  which  is 
still  unfinished,  is  really  stupendous,  the  entrance  being 
forty  five  feet  high,  and  overlaid  with  beams  of  granite, 
thirty  feet  long  and  five  thick;  the  style  singularly  beautiful 
and  light.  The  veneration  in  which  Seringam  is  held, 
arises  chiefly  from  the  belief  that  the  idol  enshrined  in  the 
inner  sanctuary,  is  the  identical  image  of  Vishnu  which 
was  worshipped  by  Brahma.  The  sanctuary  itself  is  small 
and  heavy  ;  and  the  style  of  architecture,  both  of  this  and 
the  three  inner  courts,  is  very  different  from  that  of  the 
four  others,  and  bears  evident  marks  of  a  much  higher 
antiquity.  The  most  beautiful  thing,  perhaps,  is  the  choultry 
of  one  thousand  pillars,  lofty,  regular,  and  very  noble. 
The  jewels  of  the  pagoda,  gold  vessels,  dresses,  necklaces, 
&c,  for  the  great  idol,  and  in  which  he  is  arrayed  on  his 
chief  festival,  are  but  very  tawdry  and  indifferent.  They 
are  said  to  be  worth  about  six  lacs  of  rupees,  or  £60,000. 
The  temple  has  several  times  been  plundered  by  its  own 
Bramins,  who  are  described  as  the  most  profligate  of  the 
southern  colleges.  Orme  says,  that  in  his  time  their 
numbers,  with  their  families,  maintained  entirely  by  the 
offerings  of  pilgrims,  amounted  to  forty  thousand  souls.— 
Vol.  i.  p.  178. 

N 


i4: 

The  fori,  an  extensive  walled  town,  containing  twenty  01 
thirty  thousand  inhabitants,  several  handsome  mosques, 
and  the  nabob's  palace  and  gardens  lay  beneath  us.  But 
the  most  painfully  interesting  spot  was  Swartz's  Church, 
where  our  dear  Bishop  pronounced  his  last  blessing  on 
Monday  morning.  The  associations  of  a  remote  and  super- 
stitious age,  the  traditions  of  a  Heathen  antiquity,  even  the 
gallant  and  heroic  exploits  of  our  own  countrymen,*  which 
the  objects  before  us  were  so  well  calculated  to  awaken, 
all  gave  place  to  the  recollections  suggested  by  these 
humble  walls,  consecrated  by  the  simple  rites  of  our  own 
pure  and  holy  faith,  and  now  doubly  hallowed  by  the 
ministrations  of  Christian  heroes,  the  prayers  of  Swartz 
and  Heber.    We  hastened  to  take  a  nearer  view  of  it, 
perhaps  for  the  last  time.    It  is  a  handsome,  well-propor- 
tioned church ;  but  the  cracks  in  the  arches  and  roof  are 
very  threatening,  and  it  is  pronounced  to  be  unsafe.  It 
seems  strange  that  Swartz,  both  here  and  at  Tanjore, 
should  have  built  with  elliptical  arches.    Here  is  perhaps 
the  only  specimen  of  his  composition  in  Persian,  which  he 
spoke  with  considerable  fluency.    At  the  altar  are  the 
Lord's  prayer,  the  commandments,  and  the  creed,  in 
English ;  texts  on  the  Lord's  supper  and  baptism ;  several 
short  texts  in  Portuguese  and  Tamil,  and  the  following  in 
Persian,  where  it  will  be  remarked  that  he  has  preserved 
the  correct  orthography  of  the  name  Jesus,  as  the  Syriac 
and  all  Eastern  Churches  have  done,  rejecting  the  Maho- 
metan corruption  of  (-_5AW>*-£   unfortunately  substituted 
by  modern  usage. 

*  This  was  the  scene  of  the  great  struggle  between  the  English  and 
French,  constituting  one  of  the  chief  eras  in  the  history  of  British  India. 
Mill's  Hist.  B.  iv.  c.  2. 


14:j 


%  s. 


144 

On  a  grave-stone  in  the  aisle  is  this  verse  of  Hafiz: — 

b^j^  jy.  j~*  ^  ^ '  (*^,ys?  ^ 

In  the  re-building  of  the  church,  the  recess  of  the  altar 
will  not  be  touched.  It  was  from  this  spot  the  Bishop 
pronounced  the  benediction,  only  one  hour  before  he 
entered  into  rest ; — and  let  this  be,  in  years  to  come,  the 
lone  of  India,  where  future  missionaries  may  renew  their 
vows ;  and  while  they  tread  this  sacred  ground,  and  enter 
into  his  labours,  may  pray  for  a  larger  portion  of  his 
heavenly  spirit  to  descend  upon  themselves. 

On  my  return  to  Tanjorc  I  visited  many  of  the  village 
t  hurches,  in  order  to  ascertain  their  actual  condition,  and 
the  extent  of  assistance  they  severally  required.  I  found 
every  where  the  same  deep  feeling  of  sorrow  for  our 
common  loss,  in  which  even  the  inhabitants  of  the  poorest 
and  most  sequestered  villages  felt  they  had  their  share, 
even  though  they  had  only  heard  from  others  the  report  of 
his  goodness ;  and  I  will  mention  it  to  their  honour,  that 
though  many  of  those  I  saw  were  in  the  lowest  state  of 
povert}',  and  many  of  them  reduced  to  slavery — while  a 
multitude  of  earnest  petitions  were  presented  to  me  for  a 
more  regular  pastoral  instruction — I  did  not  receive  one 
single  request  for  pecuniar}'  aid.  I  could  not  listen  without 
a  painful  emotion  of  hope  at  least  deferred,  to  these  im- 
portunate cries  for  help.  It  is  for  us  to  supply  their  wants, 
especially  of  a  regular  and  stated  ministry  ;  for  they  are 
brethren  and  fellow  Christians — nay,  more,  they  are  the 


14o 


children  that  have  been  given  to  our  Church,  and  whom 
she  is  bound  to  nourish,  and  it  is  a  duty  of  awful  responsi- 
bility which  we  dare  not,  and  cannot,  neglect.  But  where 
are  our  resources  for  this  great  work?  Where  are  the 
labourers  for  this  abundant  harvest  ? 

During  my  stay  at  the  residency,  I  requested  a  private 
audience  of  the  rajah,  who  received  me  with  great  personal 
kindness,  and  expressed  his  unfeigned  sorrow  at  the  dear 
Bishop's  loss.  He  spoke  with  great  admiration  of  the 
union  of  so  much  kindness  and  condescension  with  such 
extensive  learning,  and  said  he  had  especial  reason  to 
mourn  for  his  death,  which  he  felt  to  be  a  private  loss ; 
for,  the  very  day  on  which  he  heard  of  the  event,  the  ranee 
had  almost  consented  to  allow  her  son  to  accompany  him 
to  Calcutta.  He  was  much  affected  when  I  assured  him, 
that  besides  the  public  prayer  which  his  lordship  had 
commanded  to  be  put  up  for  him  in  all  the  churches  of  the 
province,  I  had  heard  his  private  petitions  fervently  offered 
for  his  highness,  for  his  family,  and  his  son.  I  expressed 
my  thankfulness  to  him,  on  behalf  of  his  Christian  subjects, 
for  all  his  acts  of  kindness  to  them,  and  implored  him  not 
to  forsake  them,  now  that  they  had  lost  their  father.  He 
said  he  should  consider  it  more  than  ever  his  duty  to  take 
care  of  those  whom  the  good  Bishop  loved,  and  assured 
me  he  would  always  be  their  friend.  "  Whatever  John 
Kohlhoff  asks  for  them  shall  be  done.  But  where  will 
they  find  such  another  Bishop  V  It  was  at  first  his  high- 
ness's  intention  to  raise  a  monument  to  his  memory  at  his 
own  expense,  and  he  afterwards  became  a  subscriber  of 
1000  rupees  to  the  general  fund  opened  for  that  purpose  at 
Madras  * 

■  Vide  Appendix, 
N  % 


14G 

One  of  my  most  interesting  excursions  was  to  MotcunO' 
veram,  a  village  about  thirteen  miles  from  Tanjorc,  tlw 
Chatteram,  or  hospitable  establishment  of  the  rajah,  and 
which  he  particularly  requested  me  to  visit,  in  order  to 
examine  his  English  schools.  There  is  an  excellent  house 
comfortably  furnished,  with  an  establishment  of  servants, 
and  a  table  handsomely  supplied  at  the  rajah's  expense, 
for  the  reception  of  European  travellers.  Our  party  was 
sumptuously  entertained,  after  a  morning  very  pleasantly 
employed  in  visiting  different  schools  and  charitable  foun- 
dations, which  do  so  much  honour  to  the  munificence  of  the 
rajah.*  At  day-break  I  went  two  miles  further  to  Konan- 
daguddy,  a  pretty  retired  village,  where  there  is  a  Chris- 
tian congregation  of  upwards  of  two  hundred  persons, 
seventy  of  whom  assembled  in  the  chapel,  where  Mr. 
Kohlhoff  read  prayers  and  preached.  He  was  kind  enough 
to  interpret  for  me  when  I  addressed  them,  as  he  did  in 
©very  congregation  we  visited.  The  rajah  entirely  sup- 
ports the  Christian  school  there,  as  a  branch  of  the  Chat- 
feram,  from  which  it  is  kept  separate,  to  avoid  pollution  to 
t.he  Bramins.    There  are  fifty  children  clothed,  fed,  and 


*  The  present  establishment  was  stated  to  me  as  follows,  in  an  account 
sent  to  me,  by  the  manager,  from  the  Cuteherry : — 

800  Bramins,  supported,  clothed,  and  supplied  with  medicines  and 

bathing  oil. 
"500  persons  daily  fed. 
A  lying-in  hospital. 
A  Tamil  school     .    .   298  boys. 
Teloogoo  ....  63 
English  (Heathen)  60 
Persian     ....  36 
Mahratta  ....  34 
ticsides  the  English  school  at  Konandogitddy  for  fifty  Christians. 


147 


taught.  The  catechist's  and  schoolmaster's  houses  adjoin 
the  chapel,  which  is  a  plain,  thatched  building,  in  a  beau- 
tiful compound  surrounded  with  bamboo  and  other  trees ; 
and  on  the  other  side  of  the  chapel  we  marked  out  the 
ground  for  the  residence  of  the  native  priest  who  is  to  be 
placed  here,  according  to  the  Bishop's  desire.  I  saw  no 
scene  of  humble  labour  more  enviable  than  this  sequestered 
village. 

After  leaving  Tanjore,  which  I  did  with  heartfelt  regret, 
I  turned  a  few  miles  out  of  my  road  to  visit  the  once-flou- 
rishing mission  of  Tranquebar,  now  fast  hastening  to  de- 
cay. It  was  founded  by  the  illustrious  Ziegenbalg,  and  for 
more  than  a  century  its  schools,  its  press,  and  the  labours  of 
its  resident  missionaries  were  in  active  and  successful  opera- 
tion, under  the  authority  of  the  Royal  College  of  Copen- 
hagen. Little  more  now  remains  than  the  melancholy 
traces  of  its  former  establishments.  The  original  income 
of  the  mission,  as  established  by  Frederick  IV.,  king  of 
Denmark,  amounted  to  4600  Danish  crowns :  I  am  told  it 
does  not  now  exceed  420  rupees.  The  number  of  mission- 
aries was  formerly  seven ;  in  the  last  sixteen  years  they 
have  been  reduced  to  two,  who  are  henceforward  to  be 
considered  as  chaplains  to  the  government,  and  their  cha- 
racter as  missionaries  to  the  Heathen  entirely  relinquished. 
They  had  established  twelve  congregations  in  the  Tanjore 
country,  besides  several  in  their  own  immediate  neighbour- 
hood :  the  former  have  been  for  many  years  transferred  to 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  by  whom 
their  catechists  and  schoolmasters  are  now  supported,  in 
connexion  with  the  Tanjore  mission ;  the  latter  are  still 
visited  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Caemmerer,  the  senior  missionary, 
who,  on  bis  first  arrival  in  India,  was  the  pupil  of  Swartz. 


148 


Their  establishment  of  schools,  and  the  seminaries  for  the 
education  of  catechists  and  native  priests,  are  now  reduced 
to  one  free  school  for  the  immediate  neighbourhood"  of 
Tranquebar ;  and  the  press,  from  which  so  many  useful 
works  have  formerly  issued,  and  whose  value  is  abundantly 
confessed,  not  only  by  the  gratitude  of  the  Protestant  mis- 
sions, but  by  the  abuse  and  envy  of  the  Romanists,  has 
now  for  many  years  stood  still ;  and  these  advantages  must 
henceforth  be  supplied  for  the  whole  of  the  Peninsula,  by 
the  increased  efficiency  of  the  press  at  Madras.  The 
library,  to  judge  from  its  present  remains,  was  originally  a 
noble  collection  ;  but  time,  worms,  and  other  depredators, 
have  all  been  busy  with  it,  and,  from  the  3000  volumes 
that  now  remain,  a  few  only  can  be  rescued  and  transferred 
to  other  libraries.  There  are  two  mission  churches,  both 
in  the  form  of  the  Greek  cross ;  one  called  Jerusalem, 
within  the  fort,  the  other  Bethlehem,  near  the  mission 
garden.  The  former  of  these  was  built  by  Ziegenbalg, 
A.  D.  1718,  and  there  is  a  small  mural  tablet  to  his  me- 
mory on  one  side  of  the  altar,  and  to  Griindler,  his  assist- 
ant, on  the  other. 

In  short,  a  visit  to  this  decaying  mission  is  one  of  very 
melancholy  interest,  and  having  taken  charge  of  Dr.  Csem~ 
merer's  son,  who  was  to  sail  with  me  to  Calcutta,  and 
communicated  with  Mr.  Schreyvogel  about  his  transfer  to 
Trichinopoly,  I  was  not  sorry  to  hasten  on  to  more  active 
scenes,  though  the  hospitality  and  kindness  of  Dr.  Ciem- 
merer  would  have  induced  me  to  prolong  my  stay.  It  was 
like  walking  over  the  sands  of  a  noble  river  which  has  still 
a  name  in  history,  but  whose  deep  and  fertilizing  waters 
have  been  long  dried  up,  or  diverted  into  other  channels. 

I  had  the  satisfaction,  on  my  return  to  Cuddaloret  to 


149 


complete  the  arrangements  of  the  Bishop  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  mission  property.  The  government  complied 
with  his  request  for  the  repairs  of  the  church,  immediately 
on  my  bringing  it  to  their  notice ;  the  adjoining  house  and 
compound  were  purchased  by  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  to  complete  the  premises ;  and  mea- 
sures were  immediately  taken  by  Mr.  Rosen,  to  commence 
the  establishment  of  a  Christian  village  at  Padre-cottagam, 
which  had  engaged  so  much  of  his  lordship's  anxious  calcu- 
lations. There  are  many  difficulties  to  overcome ;  but, 
with  the  collector's  kind  assistance  in  repairing  the  em- 
bankments, and  the  liberality  of  government  in  remitting 
the  arrears,  a  much  better  prospect  is  opened  for  the  success 
of  this  interesting  experiment;  and  who  would  willingly 
relinquish  the  hopes  of  an  infant  colony,  however  humble, 
whose  plan  was  marked  out  by  the  pen  of  Heber,  and 
which  was  among  the  latest  objects  of  interest  to  his  ardent 
and  noble  mind  1 

With  regard  to  the  recent  events  in  Travancore,  it  be- 
came necessary  for  me  to  supply,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
intention  which  he  communicated  to  me  on  the  Sunday 
before  his  death,  of  relating  to  the  Patriarch  of  Antioch 
the  transactions  that  had  occurred.  It  was  highly  import- 
ant to  obviato  the  unfavourable  impression  which  he  must 
naturally  receive  of  the  conduct  of  the  English  Bishop  to 
Mar  Athanasius,  for  whom  he  had  requested  his  succour 
and  friendship.  Mar  Athanasius,  though  he  had  experi- 
enced his  kindness  at  Bombay,  yet,  when  he  was  involved 
in  difficulties  in  his  new  diocese,  had  received  no  answer 
whatever  to  his  letter,  nor  had  even  heard  from  the  Bishop 
at  Calcutta.  The  unexpected  length  of  the  voyage  to  Ma- 
diasj  the  unfortunate  detention  of  his  first  letter,  in  which 


158 


he  recognised  him  as  metropolitan,  and  for  the  delivery  of 
which  he  was  therefore  most  anxious,  all  conspired  to  this 
result.  The  effect  on  the  mind  of  Mar  Athanasius  will 
naturally  be  the  very  opposite  to  that  which  would  have 
been  produced  had  these  letters  reached  him ;  and  thus, 
considering  the  English  Bishop  as  his  negligent  and  ineffi- 
cient friend,  he  will  probably  have  imbibed  and  communi- 
cated to  the  patriarch  a  feeling  of  hostility  to  our  Church, 
as  well  as  to  the  government  of  Travancore,  most  earnestly 
to  be  deprecated  :  it  might  interrupt  the  amicable  relation 
established  with  so  much  wisdom  and  judgment  by  Bishop 
Heber  with  the  Eastern  Churches,  and  might  possibly,  if 
not  timely  prevented,  lead  the  Church  of  Antioch  to  sever 
from  itself  for  ever,  by  a  general  anathema,  the  Christians 
of  St.  Thomas.  After  serious  consideration,  therefore,  1 
wrote  to  the  patriarch  the  letter  which  will  be  found  in  the 
Appendix,  a  copy  of  which  I  forwarded  to  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  together  with  this  statement  of  my  reasons 
for  the  conduct  I  had  pursued.  It  was  satisfactory  to  me 
to  hear  from  the  late  Bishop  James,  soon  after  his  arrival, 
that  his  grace  approved  the  steps  I  had  taken. 

During  his  short  residence  at  Madras,  his  lordship  had 
announced  his  intention  of  forming,  on  his  return  from  the 
South,  a  District  Committee  of  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  as  he  had  already 
clone  with  so  much  success  in  the  other  Presidencies,  and 
in  Ceylon.  This  was  one  of  his  public  plans  which  re- 
mained unaccomplished,  and  the  first  expression  of  my 
hopes  that  this  might  still  be  carried  into  effect,  was  in- 
stantly met  with  the  most  cordial  and  entire  concurrence, 
The  difficult  and  painful  duty  of  making  known  the  objects 
of  the  venerable  society  from  the  pulpit  of  St.  George's, 


which  he  had  promised  himself  to  perform,  was  now  de- 
volved on  me,  by  the  kindness  of  the  clergy,  on  Whitsun- 
day ;  and  the  following  day  a  public  meeting  was  held  for 
fhe  formation  of  the  new  committee,  when  the  numerous 
attendance  and  zealous  support  of  the  different  classes  in 
society  was  a  sufficient  testimony,  if  any  such  were  want- 
ing, with  what  universal  affection  his  name  was  cherished, 
and  how  sacred  they  held  the  duty  of  accomplishing  the 
plans  of  one  who  could  never  have  pleaded  with  them  in 
vain — whom  they  had  seen  only  to  love,  and  loved  only  to 
mourn  his  loss. 

But  this  deep  and  universal  feeling  of  affection,  reverence, 
and  sorrow,  had  just  before  been  proved  by  the  spontane- 
ous expression  of  the  puhlic  mind  at  the  meeting*  held  a 
few  days  after  the  melancholy  event  was  known,  and  at 
which  the  governor,  Sir  Thomas  Munro,  himself  presided. 
They  who  had  the  happiness  of  knowing  this  venerable 
and  illustrious  person,  will  not  soon  forget  the  impression 
of  the  deep  and  powerful  feelings  under  which  he  spoke ; 
and  they  only  can  appreciate  the  value  of  a  tribute  so  un- 
usual and  so  nobly  paid  to  departed  excellence.  The  short 
intercourse  he  had  enjoyed  with  him  had  been  sufficient 
not  only  to  endear  to  him  the  charm  of  his  conversation, 
but  to  ensure  his  admiration  of  his  unwearied  and  disin- 
terested labours,  and  of  that  noble  forgetfulness  of  self 
which  shone  through  every  action  of  his  life.    The  same 
feeling  animated  every  heart  in  a  degree  unknown  on  any 
former  occasion,  and  recent  and  casual  acquaintance  seemed 
to  vie  with  the  well  tried  affection  of  many  years  in  record- 
ing the  general  lamentation,  that  each  one  had  lost  in  him 
a  friend,  a  benefactor,  and  a  father. 


*  Vide  Appendix 


152 


A  subscription  was  immediately  opened  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a  monument  to  his  memory  in  St.  George's 
church,  and  the  amount  soon  exceeded  28,000  rupees. 
Similar  meetings  were  afterwards  held  in  the  other  Presi- 
dencies of  India  and  Ceylon,  and  the  same  resolution  was 
adopted  in  all,  to  appropriate  the  surplus  of  the  fund,  after 
the  expense  of  a  monument  was  defrayed,  to  the  promotion 
of  some  object  most  congenial  to  his  wishes.  But,  though 
the  whole  of  British  India  had  but  one  heart  and  one  voice 
on  this  mournful  occasion,  I  have  heard  of  no  instance  in 
which  the  universality  of  feeling  pervading  every  class  of 
society,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  was  more  signally 
exemplified  than  here,  in  the  great  number  of  natives  as 
well  as  Europeans,  Heathens  as  well  as  Christians,  who 
were  anxious  to  enroll  their  names  in  this  record  to  his 
virtues. 

I  had  the  melancholy  gratification  of  hearing,  on  my  re- 
turn, that  I  had  been  requested  to  prepare  the  inscription  for 
the  marble  ;  and,  though  feeling  most  sensibly  the  hopeless- 
ness of  success,  I  shall  always  esteem  it  an  honour  to  have 
had  the  task  assigned  me,  as  I  must  ever  rejoice  to  have 
been  permitted  to  share  the  counsels  and  minister  to  the 
comfort  of  such  a  heavenly  and  devoted  spirit.  The  execu- 
tion of  the  monument  has  been  intrusted  to  Chantry,  a 
name  which  ensures  the  beauty  and  excellence  of  the  work. 
The  design  is  a  figure  of  the  Bishop,  rather  larger  than  life, 
kneeling,  with  his  hands  clasped  in  the  attitude  of  prayer, 
and  turned  towards  the  altar.  But  though  this  will  long 
remain  as  a  memorial  of  his  character,  and  a  record  of  our 
admiration,  yet  he  has  left  a  more  enduring  monument  than 
"  storied  urn  or  animated  bust,"  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
bived  him,  and  the  memory  of  succeeding  times.    The  re- 


i 


153 


semblance  of  the  human  form,  like  that  form  itself,  is  weak 
and  perishable:  the  features  of  the  mind  may  remain  for 
ever,  moulded  and  expressed,  not  by  the  chisel  of  the  sculp- 
tor, but  in  the  imitation  of  his  admiring  friends.  And,  when 
these  traces  of  our  affection  shall  long  have  passed  away, 
his  memory  shall  still  be  blessed; — for  all  that  we  have 
loved  and  admired  in  Heber,  will  remain  for  ever  in  the  im- 
perishable value  of  his  labours,  and  the  unfading  blessed- 
ness of  his  reward. 

M.  S. 

Viri  admodum  Reverendi,  et  in  Christo  Patnt, 

REGINALDI  HEBER,  S.  T.  P. 

EPISCOPI  CALCUTTENSISf 

Qui  ab  ipsa  statim  adolesceutii, 

Ingenii  faim,  Huinanitatis  cultu, 

Omnigenaque  Doctrina;  laude  ornatissimus, 

Se  suaque  Deo  humillime  consecravit. 

In  sanctissimum  Episcopates  ordinem  adscriptus, 

Ecclesia?  apud  Indos  Anglicana;  iufantiam 

Usque  ad  vita: ;  jacturam,  aluil,  fovit,  sustentavit. 

Admirabili  ingenii  candore, 

Suavissima  morum  siruplicitate, 
I  .... 

Divinaque  animi  benevolentia, 

Usque  adeo  omnes  sibi  devinxerat, 

Ut  Ecclesice  universa  Patrem, 

Ethnici  Patronuin  carissiinum  desiderarent. 

Subiti  morte  prasreptus, 

Juxta  Urbem  Tricliinopolim, 

Mortales  Exuvias  deposuit,  Aprilis  die  tu. 

Anno  Salutis  MDCCCXXVE  iEtatis  XLIII, 

Episcopates  in. 

Madrasenses,  non  solum  Christiani 

Sed  et  Ethnici, 

Principes,  Magnates,  Pauperes, 

Ad  hoc  m armor  extruendum 

Uno  consensu  adfuerunt. 

o 


The  Blessedness  of  the  Faithful  and  Wise  Steward, 


A 

FUXERAL,  SERMON 

OM  THE 

DECEASE 

OF 

THE  RIGHT  REVEREND  REGINALD, 

LORD  BISHOP  OF  CALCUTTA. 


TO 

THE  CHURCH  OF  INDIA, 

BOTH  CLERGY  AND  PEOPLE, 

AND  ESPECIALLY 

TO 

THE  BRITISH  INHABITANTS  OF  TRICHINOPOLY, 

THIS  SERMON 

IS  INSCRIBED 
BV  THEIR  MOST  FAITHFUL 
AND  AFFECTIONATE  SERVANT, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


0  2 


SERMON, 

&c. 


St.  LUKE  xii.  42,  43,  44. 

Who  then  is  that  faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom  his 
lord  shall  make  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give  them, 
their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season  ?  Blessed  is  that 
servant,  whom  his  lord  when  he  eometh  shall  find  so 
doing.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you,  That  he  icill  make 
him  ruler  over  all  that  he  hath. 

A  striking  and  unanswerable  argument  for  the  divine 
origin  of  our  holv  faith,  is  drawn  from  its  wonderful  adap- 
tation to  all  the  circumstances  of  our  present  and  future 
destiny ;  the  exact  coincidence  and  agreement  of  its  spi- 
ritual provisions  with  all  the  exigencies  of  our  lost  condition, 
and  all  the  capabilities  of  our  regenerate  nature — and  (as  a 
part  of  the  same  beautiful  and  admirable  order)  the  intimate 
and  harmonious  blending  of  all  its  most  urgent  commands, 
its  deepest  and  most  affecting  realities,  ith  the  moral  con- 
stitution of  our  minds,  the  hopes  and  fears,  the  charities 
and  sympathies  of  man.  A  religion  thus  framed  could  pro- 
ceed from  Him  only  who  made  the  heart. 

Your  own  reflections  will  enable  you  to  follow  up  this 
argument  through  all  its  interesting  details ;  I  mention  it 


160 


thus  summarily,  as  it  may  suggest  to  us,  on  this  sad  occa- 
sion, the  surest  and  best  grounds  for  consolation  and  in- 
struction in  that  feeling  of  general  affliction  with  which 
every  heart  is  filled.  We  are  mourning  this  day  for  our 
friend  and  spiritual  father.  We  are  met  to  renew  our 
prayers  and  tears  over  his  grave,  whom  even  strangers 
quickly  learned  to  love,  whom  they  who  best  knew  him 
ioved  and  valued  most,  and  on  whom  the  eyes  and  hearts 
of  thousands  rested  with  a  deep  and  concentrated  affection. 
Ours  is  no  private  and  individual  sorrow.  The  event  which 
we  deplore  will  be  heard  with  tears  through  every  town  in 
India ;  and  the  same  feeling  will  be  deeply  shared  by  every 
heart  in  our  native  country,  which  had  traced  his  progress 
with  admiration,  with  gratitude,  and  hope.  Not  we  only, 
but  the  Church  of  Christ  throughout  these  Heathen  lands, 
mourns  this  day  as  a  widow  and  an  orphan.  And  how 
then  shall  I  endeavour  to  direct  your  sorrow  and  my  own  ? 
Shall  I  exhort  you  to  receive  this  and  similar  dispensations 
of  Divine  Providence  with  stoical  indifference,  and  to 
harden  your  hearts  against  the  indulgence  of  natural  grief, 
as  if  it  were  the  enemy  of  moral  virtue  ? — Or  shall  I,  like 
the  idolater  of  pleasure,  seek  to  divert  you  from  the  solem- 
nity of  this  awful  warning,  and  bid  you  sleep  on  upon  your 
beds  of  roses,  though  the  voice  of  death  himself  is  in  your 
ears?  Alas  !  in  either  case,  I  should  prove  myself  a  vain 
and  miserable  comforter  ;  in  either  case,  I  should  but  prove 
my  utter  ignorant,  not  less  of  the  nature  of  man  than  of 
the  religion  of  the  cross. 

Far  different  is  the  example  of  our  Redeemer,  and  the 
spirit  of  his  Gospel.  Jesus  wept  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus, 
though  he  knew  that  his  friend  was  suffering  only  a  tempo- 
rary death :  nor  do  I  read  that  he  blamed  the  tears  of 


161 


Martha  and  of  Mary,  while  each  severally  exclaimed,  in 
the  fulness  of  their  hearts,  "  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here, 
my  brother  had  not  died.'1''  But  he  left  them  not  to  the 
morbid  indulgence  of  an  unavailing  sorrow ;  he  made  it 
the  instrument  of  their  instruction  and  improvement :  he 
seized  on  that  moment  of  suffering,  when  the  heart  was 
softened  for  the  reception  of  his  heavenly  teaching,  to  pro- 
claim the  blessed  doctrine  of  a  resurrection  to  life  eternal, 
and  the  necessity  of  faith  in  Him,  if  ever  we  would  enjoy 
that  blessedness.  "  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life : 
whosoever  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall 
he  live;  and  whosoever  liveth,  and  believeth  in  me,  shall 
never  die."  He  wept  over  the  desolations  of  Jerusalem ; 
and  while  he  minutely  foretels  the  ruin  of  that  devoted  city, 
and  the  still  more  fearful  advent  of  the  Son  of  man  to  judge 
the  world,  he  bids  his  disciples  arm  their  spirits  for  the 
suddenness  of  that  tremondous  hour  by  constant  watchful- 
ness and  prayer ;  he  alarms  their  fears  for  their  country 
and  the  world  ;  but  he  makes  use  of  those  very  fears  to 
urge  them  to  increasing  vigilance  and  labour  :  he  tells  them 
of  the  danger  of  supineness  and  inaction,  and  of  a  rich 
reward  of  superadded  and  eternal  blessedness  to  the  faith- 
ful stewards  of  his  household.  "  Who  then  is  that  faithful 
and  wise  steward,  whom  his  lord  shall  make  rider  over 
his  household,  to  give  them  their  portion  of  meat  in  due 
season  ?  Blessed  is  that  servant,  whom  his  lord  when 
he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto 
you,  That  he  will  make  him  ruler  over  all  that  he 
hath." 

My  brethren,  if  we  would  sorrow  as  Christian  mourners, 
let  us  imitate,  in  our  solemn  meditations,  his  blessed  ex- 
ample.   The  Providence  of  God  hath  spoken  to  us  in  a 


162 


voice  which  no  sophistry  can  misinterpret,  and  from  whose 
deep  impression  no  worldliness  can  escape.  Had  we  stood 
by  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  the  realities  of  death  and  a  judg- 
ment to  come  could  hardly  have  been  proclaimed  more 
powerfully  than  in  the  awful  event  which  we  deplore. 
Scarcely  could  the  suddenness  of  these  fearful  realities 
have  been  more  strongly  impressed  upon  our  souls,  if  we 
had  heard  the  Saviour  himself  exclaiming,  "  Be  ye  also 
ready :  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of 
man  cometh."  And  oh  believe  it !  this  house  of  mourning 
is  the  best  school  of  heavenly  wisdom.  These  impressions 
are  the  very  means  by  which  God  seeks  to  turn  you  to 
himself.  Humble  yourselves,  therefore,  under  the  mighty 
hand  of  God.  Erase  not  from  your  memories  these  warn- 
ings of  your  own  mortality ;  quench  not  the  ideas  they 
impart  of  future  and  eternal  realities  i  but,  seeing  we  look 
for  such  things,  let  us  learn  from  the  example  of  our  dear 
departed  father,  "  what  manner  of  persons  we  ought  to  be 
in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness." 

The  first  general  lesson  that  our  Saviour  teaches  us  in 
my  text,  is  the  tenure  by  which  we  hold  whatever  we  call 
ours  on  earth ;  that  we  are  the  stewards  of  his  property, 
not  the  masters  of  our  own ;  that  we  are  placed  here  in  a 
state  of  trial  and  service ;  that  the  various  talents  in  our 
possession — rank  and  influence,  wealth  and  learning,  the 
love  of  friends  and  the  opportunities  of  leisure — every 
blessing  within  our  reach,  and  every  breath  we  draw — are 
intrusted  to  our  charge  by  the  Master  of  this  great  house- 
hold, not  for  our  own  aggrandizement,  but  for  His  glory 
and  the  good  of  our  fellow-servants  ;  that  though  He  is  ab- 
sent for  a  time,  invisible  to  all  but  the  eye  of  faith,  and 
forgotten  by  the  slothful  and  disobedient,  yet  His  eye  is 


163 


ever  over  us,  that  "  He  compasseth  our  path  and  our  lying 
doion,  and  is  acquainted  witk  all  our  ways;''''  that  though 
His  voice  is  long  unheard,  and  His  hand  unseen,  He  marks 
down  in  the  book  of  his  remembrance  every  action,  and 
word,  and  thought;  and  that  he  will  assuredly  one  day 
come  to  reckon  with  his  servants,  and  to  assign  to  each  one 
his  eternal  portion  of  reward  or  punishment.  Again,  He 
teaches  us  that  in  this  stewardship  it  is  required  that  a  man 
be  found  faithful ;  that  we  must  not  squander  or  misapply 
the  things  committed  to  our  care,  but  honestly  and  consci- 
entiously appropriate  them  to  the  objects  for  which  they 
were  designed.  He  instructs  us,  further,  that  prudence 
and  wisdom  are  also  necessary,  if  we  would  approve  our- 
selves to  our  Divine  Master ;  that  a  faithful  steward  will  be 
wise,  in  choosing  out  of  many  instruments  the  one  most 
proper  to  effect  the  object  he  has  in  view — in  selecting  the 
most  favourable  time  for  action,  for  counsel,  and  for  secret 
thought — in  deciding  accurately  between  claims  of  duty 
apparently  equal  and  conflicting,  and  in  knowing  well  what 
plans  of  benevolence  and  justice  will  best  advance  the 
honour  of  his  Lord  and  the  welfare  of  those  within  his 
influence  or  authority. 

Such  is  the  condition,  and  such  the  duty  of  all  men,  of 
whatever  rank  or  order  in  society ;  for  all  have  some  share 
of  their  master's  goods  ;  "  to  one  hath  he  given  five  talents^ 
to  another  two,  to  another  one  ;  to  every  man  according 
to  his  several  ability."  But  it  is  evident  from  the  expres- 
sion of  the  text,  which  is  an  indirect  and  most  impressive 
answer  to  the  question  of  St.  Peter,  "  Speakest  thou  this 
parable  to  us,  or  even  unto  all?"  that  our  Lord  had 
especial,  though  not  exclusive,  reference  to  his  chosen 
apostles,  and  their  successors  for  ever,  the  higher  ministers 


164 


of  his  Church,  the  chief  stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God ; 
for  they  are  emphatically  "  made  rulers  over  his  household, 
to  give  them  their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season." 

Bear  with  us,  brethren,  while,  as  the  ordinary  stewards 
of  the  divine  mysteries,  we  magnify  our  office.    We  do  it 
from  no  desire  of  vain-glory  or  earthly  pre-eminence — 
God  is  witness  !  and  this,  at  least,  is  no  place,  this  is  no 
time  for  dissimulation.    We  do  it  that  we  may  impress  it 
more  deeply  on  our  own  consciences,  (and  where  could  we 
better  seek  to  renew  the  impression,  than  before  the  altar 
of  our  Saviour,  and  at  the  grave  of  our  beloved  Bishop  1) 
"  to  how  weighty  an  office  and  charge  we  are  called ;  that 
is  to  say,  to  be  messengers,  watchmen,  and  stewards  of  the 
Lord  ;  to  teach  and  to  premonish,  to  feed  and  provide  for 
the  Lord's  family  ;  to  seek  for  Christ's  sheep  that  are  dis- 
persed abroad,  and  for  his  children  who  are  in  the  midst  of 
this  naughty  world,  that  they  may  be  saved  through  Christ 
for  ever.    We  would  have  it  always  imprinted  in  our  re-» 
membrance,  how  great  a  treasure  is  committed  to  our 
charge :  for  they  are  the  sheep  of  Christ,  which  he  bought 
with  his  death,  and  for  whom  he  shed  his  blood.  The 
Church  and  congregation  whom  we  serve  is  his  spouse  and 
his  body."*    If,  in  ordinary  men,  fidelity  and  wisdom  are 
required  in  the  discharge  of  their  several  duties,  how  much 
more  in  those  who  are  intrusted  with  an  office  of  so  great 
excellency  and  so  great  difficulty  1  If  the  special  assistance 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  was  necessary  to  the  artificers  who  were 
employed  in  the  construction  of  the  tabernacle,  that  all  its 
parts  might  be  framed  according  to  the  pattern  in  the  mount, 
how  much  greater  need  have  we,  who  are  fellow-labourers 


*  Ordination  service. 


165 


with  God  in  building  up  his  spiritual  temple,  to  pray  for 
that  "  ability  which  is  given  of  God  alone,"  that  by  the 
daily  help  of  his  Holy  Spirit  we  may  be  wise  to  win  souls  ? 
And  oh  !  if  it  becomes  others  who  are  intrusted  with  secular 
gifts  and  worldly  talents,  to  prepare  for  that  day  when  they 
shall  be  called  to  give  a  strict  and  solemn  account  at  the 
judgment-seat  of  Christ,  with  what  fidelity  and  zeal,  with 
what  continual  and  unwearied  diligence,  with  what  patient 
and  humble  watchfulness,  must  we,  who  are  the  stewards 
©f  his  heavenly  treasures,  wait  on  our  holy  ministry,  "  lest 
our  Lord  come  in  a  day  when  we  look  not  for  him,  and  in 
an  hour  when  we  are  not  aware  ?"  We  are  animated  and 
encouraged  in  our  work  by  promises  of  continual  support 
and  eternal  blessedness,  if  we  continue  faithful  to  the  end ; 
but  the  danger  of  our  fall  is  infinitely  greater,  and  the' 
punishment  more  fearful. 

But  the  words  of  my  text  have  a  meaning  still  more 
appropriate  to  the  occasion  for  which  I  have  chosen  them  ; 
they  refer  to  a  higher  dignity  in  the  Church  than  ours,  a 
larger  and  more  honourable  field  of  labour,  a  more  weighty 
•and  tremendous  responsibility,  and  a  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory.  They  refer  to  the  apostolical  office 
Itself ;  and  to  that  which  has  succeeded  it  in  its  more  pecu- 
liar and  characteristic  duties — of  ordaining  other  ministers 
to  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  superintending  them  in  the 
exercise  of  their  ministry.  For  as  you,  the  children  of  our 
spiritual  care,  are  obedient  unto  us,  and  receive  from  our 
hands  the  nourishment  of  your  souls,  so  has.  it  been  our 
privilege  to  obey  in  all  things  the  paternal  authority  of  ouf 
spiritual  governor,  to  whom  the  economy  of  the  Church 
amongst  us  was  mercifully  intrusted — even  as  he  was  sub- 
ject to  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our 

P 


166 

souls,  and  as  Christ  himself,  in  the  days  of  his  earthly 
ministry,  was  subject  to  his  Heavenly  Father.* 

"Who  then  was  that  faithful  and  wise  steward  whom  his 
Lord  thus  made  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give  them 
their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season  ?  "  He  was  a  burning 
and  a  shining  light:  and  ye  desired]  for  a  season  to 
rejoice  in  his  light.'',  Alas,  ye  desired  in  vain  !  that  light 
is  suddenly  extinguished,  and  we  arc  left  to  judge  of  its 
excellence  and  beauty  by  the  present  darkness  of  our 
minds.  But  let  us  not  mourn  in  vain,  or  sit,  even  here, 
with  our  loins  ungirt.  We  can  learn  no  longer  from  his 
lips,  but  let  us  study,  with  pious  care,  the  example  he  has 
left  us,  and  let  us  endeavour  to  follow  it  with  so  much  the 
greater  earnestness,  as  it  is  now  sealed  by  the  hand  of 
death,  and  endeared  to  us  by  the  sanctity  of  a  filial  afl'ec- 
tion. 

He  was  born  of  an  ancient  and  distinguished  family ; 
and  from  circumstances  of  connexion,  as  well  as  birth, 
might  reasonably  have  looked  forward  to  eminent  public 
offices  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  an  honourable 
career  of  political  ambition.  To  this  his  high  and  buoyant 
spirit,  his  thirst  of  noble  praise,  his  ardent  love  of  liberty, 
and  a  mind  glowing  at  once  with  the  examples  of  ancient 
greatness,  and  sensibly  alive  to  the  imitation  of  living  ex- 
cellence, would  all  have  conspired  to  lead  him  :  nor  have 
I  ever  met  with  one  who  seemed  more  strongly  marked, 
by  a  rare  combination  of  amiable  and  commanding  quali- 
ties, to  be  at  once  the  idol  of  the  people  and  a  favourite 
with  the  source  of  power.  His  career  of  academical  la- 
bour was  distinguished  by  several  of  the  highest  honours ; 


*'  S.  Ignat.  Epist.  ail  Saiyrnceos. 


t  JiSij.iWTs,  John  v.  o'j, 


1G7 


I iis  mind  was  richly  stored  with  a  vast  variety  of  ancient 
and  modern  learning ;  and,  even  in  early  youth,  his  name 
held  no  ignoble  place  in  the  literature  and  poetry  of  Eng- 
land. Whatever  yet  seemed  wanting  to  fit  him  for  the 
theatre  of  the  world,  was  added  by  his  extensive  inter- 
course with  foreign  European  countries,  of  the  fruits  of 
which  no  ordinary  specimen  was  exhibited  in  his  enlightened 
researches  respecting  the  northern  nations,  to  the  foot  of 
Caucasus,  and  to  the  western  boundaries  of  Asia.  The 
record  of  those  researches  is  given,  with  its  just  tribute  of 
praise,  by  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  distinguished  of 
our  modern  travellers.* 

But  this  career  of  fame  and  human  praise,  whatever 
were  its  value,  and  whatever  facilities  were  presented  to 
him  for  its  acquisition,  had,  for  a  mind  like  his,  but  a  feeble 
and  transient  fascination.  He  had  a  higher  and  more 
noble  ambition  ;  the  object  of  his  pursuit  was  less  splendid 
in  the  eyes  of  men  ;  it  was  one  of  secret  virtue  and  self- 
denying  diligence ;  but,  if  estimated  (as  we  around  his 
grave  can  now  measure  it)  by  the  standard  of  eternity,  it 
was  the  path  of  the  purest  happiness  on  earth,  and  termi- 
nating in  certain  and  imperishable  glory.  His  society  was 
much  courted  by  the  world,  and  in  the  learned  retirement 
of  his  college ;  and  never  surely  was  any  one  so  formed  to 
enjoy  the  society  of  those  around  him,  or  to  win  their 
admiration  and  affection  by  the  varied  and  inexhaustible 
charms  of  his  own  delightful  conversation.  But  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  humble  duties  of  a  parish  priest  in  a  retired 
village,!  and  thought  he  had  attained  his  highest  happiness, 
and  most  honourable  distinction,  in  becoming  the  friend, 


Dr.  E.  D.  Clarke. 


t  Ilodnet,  in  Cheshire. 


168 


the  pastor,  the  spiritual  guide  of  the  simple  villagers  around 
him,  in  consecrating  his  talents,  his  time,  and  his  resources, 
to  the  service  of  his  God  and  Saviour.  The  more  humble 
was  the  sphere  of  his  duty,  the  more  did  his  heart  rejoice 
in  its  performance.  He  laboured  to  accommodate  his- 
instructions  to  the  comprehension  of  all ;  a  labour  by  no 
means  easy  to  a  mind  stored  with  classic  elegance,  and  an 
imagination  glowing  with  a  thousand  images  of  sublimity 
and  beauty.  He  rejoiced  so  to  form  his  manners,  his 
habits,  and  his  conversation  to  those  who  were  intrusted 
to  his  care,  that  he  might  gain  the  confidence  and  affection 
of  even  the  poorest  among  his  flock ;  so  that  he  might  the 
more  surely  win  their  souls  to  God,  and  finally,  in  the  last 
great  day  of  account,  present  every  man  faultless  before 
his  presence  with  exceeding  joy.  He  was,  above  all, 
singularly  happy  in  his  visitation  of  the  sick,  and  in  ad- 
ministering consolation  to  those  that  mourned ;  and  his 
name  will  long  be  dear,  and  his  memory  most  precious,  in 
the  cottages  of  the  poor,  by  whose  sick-beds  he  has  often 
stood  as  a  ministering  angel. 

His  labours,  however,  were  not  confined  to  the  village 
of  his  care.  He  sought,  indeed,  no  higher  employment 
than  that  which  he  had  chosen ;  but  they  who  knew  his 
worth,  and  could  appreciate  his  talents,  were  anxious  to 
draw  him  from  his  retirement.  He  preached  not  unfre- 
quently  from  the  pulpit  of  the  University,  of  which  he  was 
considered  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  :  and  his  sermons 
on  the  Nature  and  Influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  delivered, 
on  his  appointment  to  the  Bampton  Lecture,  remain  to  the 
Church  of  God  a  monument  of  his  deep  and  varied  learning, 
his  powerful  and  majestic  eloquence,  and  his  zeal  and 
ridelity  in  resisting  the  mo<t  subtle  and  pernicious  of 


169 


modern  heresies.  He  was  subsequently  appointed  preacher 
to  the  learned  Society  of  Lincoln's  Inn;  and  it  will  not 
soon  be  forgotten  by  those  who  then  enjoyed  his  ministry, 
how  well  and  admirably  he  united  the  force  of  argument, 
and  the  beauty  of  illustration,  with  the  plain  enunciation 
of  his  heavenly  message,  and  a  powerful  and  affectionate 
appeal  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his  hearers. 

But  his  Divine  3Iaster  called  him  to  other  and  more 
important  labours;  and  on  the  sudden  removal  of  the  ex- 
cellent prelate  who  first  presided  over  our  Indian  Church, 
and  who  is  yet  freshly  remembered  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  hear  me,  lie  was  chosen  to  the  care  of  this  extensive 
diocese,  and  consecrated  to  the  highest  and  holiest  order  in 
the  Christian  Church.  He  left  his  native  land  with  no  com- 
mon sacrifice  of  private  interests,  of  individual  affections, 
and  of  all  the  reasonable  hopes  and  prospects  of  his  family 
and  admiring  friends;  for  such  had  been  his  life,  that  they 
who  were  but  his  acquaintance  loved  him  as  a  friend;  his 
friends  loved  him  as  a  brother;  and  his  family  cherished 
him  as  a  part  01  their  own  existence.  He  left  his  native 
land  (I  speak  from  intimate  knowledge  and  full  conviction) 
with  tiie  devoted  spirit  of  a  true  Christian  bishop,  with  no 
selfish  feeling,  and  no  shrinking  from  the  arduous  and  peril- 
ous duties  which  he  well  knew  awaited  him.  He  sought 
not  the  office;;  but  felt,  while  he  undertook  if,  the  heavy 
burden  which  it  imposed,  and  the  awful  responsibility  of  the 
charge.  Indeed,  if  there  was  any  thing  in  my  honoured 
friend  and  master  which  I  presumed  to  think  a  fault,  it  was 
that  he  thought  too  little  of  the  external  dignity  which  was 
annexed  to  his  spiritual  power;  and  from  a  feeling  of  entire 
humility,  and  from  that  modesty  and  gentleness  which 
pervaded  every  word  and  every  action,  sought  rather  to 

P3 


170 


©scape  from  that  homage  and  respect  which  it  was  equally 
our  duty  and  our  happiness  to  pay.  He  came  to  this 
country,  accompanied  by  the  prayers  and  blessings  of 
thousands ;  and  I  speak  only  the  language  of  many  hearts, 
in  every  distant  province,  when  I  say  that  he  came  to  us, 
his  immediate  charge,  and  to  the  Heathen  nations  among 
whom  we  dwell,  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ. 

Little  more  than  two  years  have  elapsed  since  he  first 
arrived  in  India;  but  in  that  short  period  he  had  visited, 
almost  every  station  where  a  Christian  Church  could  be 
assembled,  and,  while  engaged  in  the  longest  and  most 
difficulty  journey  that  has  fallen  within  the  duties  of  any 
bishop  since  the  earlier  ages  of  Christianity,  he  employed 
himself,  wherever  he  came,  not  only  in  the  higher  functions 
of  his  office,  but  in  the  more  humble  and  laborious  duties 
of  an  ordinary  pastor.  He  had  thus  become  known  to  all 
his  clergy,  and  to  all  his  people,  in  the  plains  and  mountains 
of  Hindostan,  in  the  wilder  tracts  of  Central  India,  in  the 
stations  of  Guzerat,  the  Deckan,  and  the  western  coast,  in 
the  hills  and  valleys  of  Ceylon,  and  in  these  southern 
provinces,  the  scene  of  his  latest  labours,  and  henceforth 
of  his  dearest  memory. 

In  the  course  "of  these  journeys,  and  in  all  his  other 
labours,  his  heart  was  most  earnestly  and  intently  fixed, 
not  only  on  the  government  of  the  existing  Church,  but  on 
the  extension  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  these  strong  holds  of 
Heathen  and  Mahomedan  superstition.  He  delighted  to 
consider  himself  as  the  chief  missionary  of  India,  a  char- 
acter implied,  in  his  judgment,  in  the  nature  of  his  Episco- 
pal office  itself:  and,  while  he  felt  it  to  be  his  bounden 
duty  to  confine  his  pecuniary  aid  and  direct  influence  to 


171 


the  establishments  of  that  Church  whose  orders  and  ministry 
he  received  as  apostolical,  yet  most  sincerely  did  he  rejoice 
in  the  successful  labours  of  all  Christian  societies,  of  what- 
ever denomination,  in  the  field  of  India;  for  he  felt,  that, 
while  marshalled  against  a  common  enemy,  there  should 
be  none  other  than  a  generous  rivalry,  and  a*  brotherly 
emulation  between  our  separate  hosts : — and  that  even  thus 
the  fortune  of  the  field  is  best  secured,  if  each  army  keeps 
its  own  ranks  unbroken,  and  its  own  discipline  inviolate. 
The  several  societies  connected  with  our  Church  partook 
largely  of  his  regard  and  active  support ;  particularly — the 
venerable  chartered  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  whose  general  cause,  as  connected 
with  their  central  establishment  of  Bishop's  College,  he  had 
successfully  pleaded  at  the  several  Presidencies  of  Bombay, 
Columbo,  and  Calcutta;  and  which  ho  proposed,  on  his  re- 
turn to  Madras,  to  recommend  there  also  to  the  benevolence 
of  the  Christian  world-^The  Church  Missionary  Society, 
to  whose  labours  and  the  character  of  their  missionaries 
he  repeatedly  bore  the  most  honourable  testimony — and  the 
venerable  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
whose  interests  literally  occupied  his  dying  thoughts. 

The  missions  of  this  last-named  sociely,  at  Tanjore  and 
in  this  place,  the  foundations  of  the  apostolic  Swartz,  and 
the  excellent  men  who  have  walked  and  are  still  walking 
in  his  steps,  awakened,  in  a  most  powerful  degree,  and  be- 
yond anything  he  had  previously  seen,  the  affections  of  his 
heart:  and  to  devise  and  arrange  a  plan  for  their  revived 
and  more  extended  prosperity  was  the  object  which  occu- 
pied for  many  days,  and  to  the  last  hour  of  his  life  (as  several 
who  now  hear  me  can  bear  witness,)  his  anxious  thoughts, 
his  earnest  prayers,  and  the  concentrated  energies  of  his 


172 


mind.  Again  and  again  did  he  repeat  to  me,  that  all  which 
he  had  witnessed  in  the  native  congregations  of  these  missions 
— their  numbers,  their  general  order,  their  devout  attendance 
on  the  services  of  the  Church — exceeded  every  expectation 
he  had  formed ;  and  that  in  their  support  and  revival  he 
saw  the  fairest  hope  of  extending  the  Church  of  Christ. 
Never  shall  I  forget  the  warm  expressions  of  his  delight, 
when,  on  Easter-day,  he  gathered  them  around  him  as  his 
children,  as  one  family  with  ourselves,  administered  to  them 
the  body  and  blood  of  our  common  Saviour,  and  blessed 
them  in  their  native  tongue;  and  when,  in  the  evening  of 
that  day,  he  had  seen  before  him  not  fewer  than  one  thousand 
three  hundred  natives  of  those  districts,  rescued  from  idolatry 
and  superstition,  and  joining  as  with  one  heart  and  voice  in 
the  prayers  and  praises  of  our  Church,  I  can  never  forget 
his  exclamation,  that  he  would  gladly  purchase  that  day 
with  years  of  life. 

Those  of  you  who  heard  his  parting  address,  on  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  from  the  grave  of  Swam,  will  never  lose  the 
deep  impression  of  that  solemn  moment,  when  (as  if  he  had 
foreseen  that  his  departure  was  at  hand)  he  commended 
you  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  charging  you  by 
the  love  of  your  Saviour  and  of  each  other,  and  animating 
you  by  the  memory  of  your  departed  father,  and  by  the  near 
prospect  of  your  eternal  reward,  to  perseverance,  fidelity, 
and  Christian  order.  Of  his  last  public  ministrations  in  this 
place  I  need  not  speak  to  you ;  the  memory  of  them  is  fresh 
in  every  heart ;  you  treasure  them  as  the  last  words  of  a 
departed  friend.  You  remember  well  the  earnestness  and 
affection  of  his  manner,  how  he  exhorted,  and  comforted, 
and  charged  every  one  of  you,  as  a  father  doth  his  children, 
that  ye  would  walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath  called  you  to 


173 


his  kingdom  arid  glory.  Alas!  who  could  have  foreseen, 
while  hanging  on  those  lips,  that  they  would  so  soon  be 
closed  in  death ;  that  the  voice  of  your  shepherd,  whom 
you  had  just  begun  to  love,  should  be  heard  by  you  again 
no  more  for  ever  ?  His  sun  was  in  its  meridian  power,  an3 
its  warmth  most  genial,  when  it  was  suddenly  eclipsed  for 
ever.  He  fell,  as  the  standard-bearer  of  the  cross  might 
well  rejoice  to  fall,  by  no  lingering  delay,  but  in  the  firm- 
ness and  vigour  of  his  age,  and  in  the  very  act  of  combat 
and  of  triumph.  His  Master  came  suddenly,  and  found 
him  faithful  in  his  charge,  and  waiting  for  His  appearing. 
His  last  hour  was  spent  in  his  Lord's  service,  and  ia 
ministering  to  the  humblest  of  his  flock.  He  had  scarcely 
put  off  the  sacred  robes  with  which  he  served  at  the  altar 
of  his  God  on  earth,  when  he  was  suddenly  admitted  to 
his  sanctuary  on  high,  and  clothed  with  the  garments  of 
immortality. 

What  mean  then  these  tears  for  his  removal  X  and  why 
mourn  we  for  our  departed  father  as  men  without  hope  ? 
He  was  that  faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom  his  Lord  had 
made  ruler  over  his  household,  to  give  them  their  portion 
of  meat  in  due  season.  And  oh!  blessed,  eternally  blessed, 
is  that  servant  whom  his  Lord  when  he  came  found  so 
doing  !  He  has  exchanged  a  life  of  labour,  and  anxiety, 
and  imperfection,  for  the  repose  and  blessedness  of  heaven. 
His  warfare  is  accomplished  ;  and  he  has  passed  from  the 
conflicts  of  the  Church  on  earth,  to  the  glories  of  an  ever- 
lasting triumph. 

But  his  full  reward  is  not  yet  received.  The  morning 
of  the  general  resurrection  shall  first  dawn,  and  all  nations 
shall  be  gathered  before  the  throne  of  God,  and  all  his 
faithful  children,  from  every  age  and  every  clime,  shall  be 


174 


assembled,  before  his  joy  can  be  full.  "  For  what  was  his 
hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  Are  not  even  ye  in 
th'e  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming  V 
Ye,  and  all  the  other  children  of  his  care,  shall  in  that  day 
be  his  glory  and  his  joy. 

The  connexion  between  the  ministers  of  Christ  and  the 
people  committed  to  them  can  never  be  dissolved.  It  hath 
in  it  nothing  perishable,  and  death  itself  hath  no  power  to 
break  it.  It  may  be  interrupted  by  many  changes ;  the 
pastor  may  be  removed  to  another  flock,  one  and  another 
may  be  taken  from  him,  but  the  bond  of  their  connexion  is 
eternally  the  same.  The  bread  with  which  we  feed  you 
here,  is  the  bread  of  life.  The  cup  which  we  give  you,  is 
that  spiritual  stream  that  follows  the  Church  of  God  from 
the  rock  of  Horeb  to  the  borders  of  Canaan ;  and  that 
which  supports  and  nourishes  you  now,  will  form  assuredly 
your  blessedness  hereafter.  And  may  we  not  hope  that 
those  who  have  been  the  honoured  instruments  of  your 
spiritual  nourishment  on  earth,  may  enjoy  an  increase  of 
the  satisfaction  and  blessedness  of  their  souls  in  heaven, 
while  you  receive  with  them  the  hidden  manna  which  is  in 
the  sanctuary  of  God,  and  the  waters  of  the  river  of  life, 
which  cometh  forth  from  the  throne  of  God  1 

And  surely  if  the  contemplation  of  heavenly  objects  is 
endeared  to  us  by  communion  with  those  we  love,  it  may 
well  be  thought  that  one  part  of  the  blessedness  of  heaven 
may  consist  in  that  communion  rendered  perfect  and  en- 
tire. That  blessedness  assuredly  can  be  no  other  than  the 
knowledge  and  love  of  God — of  Him  who  is  the  Creator, 
the  Redeemer,  and  the  Sanctificr  of  our  souls ;  that  beatific 
vision,  where  to  know  and  to  love  is  one  act  of  the  delighted 
Spirit,  and  where  "  God  is  all  in  all."   Yet  the  angels  in 


175 


heaven  (though  their  happiness  is  similar)  have  still  theii' 
appointed  services,  and  their  service  is  their  glory.  The 
Church,  which  is  now  militant  on  earth,  shall  then  be 
triumphant ;  but  its  ministers  and  servants  will  still  find 
there  a  ministry  and  a  service,  a  service  of  no  worldly 
sanctuary,  and  mingled  there  with  no  imperfection  and 
alloy ;  they  will  find  an  increase  of  their  own  individual 
blessedness  in  adding  to  the  blessedness  of  those  who  first 
learned  from  them  the  way  to  heaven,  and  in  witnessing, 
by  perfect  and  intimate  communion  with  the  former  chil- 
dren of  their  care,  the  completion  of  their  earthly  labours. 

The  voice,  then,  of  our  father,  whose  loss  we  mourn,  is 
silent  only  for  a  time  :  we  shall  listen  again  to  its  accents : 
he  will  speak  to  us  again  (but  in  tones  how  different !) 
"  when  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  immortality."  We 
shall  hear  from  him  again  (but  by  a  communication  how 
blessed !)  the  words  of  eternal  life ;  and  in  him,  and  all 
other  faithful  stewards  of  His  household,  we  shall  behold 
that  solemn  promise  of  our  Saviour  accomplished,  "  Verily 
I  say  unto  you,  He  will  make  him  ruler  over  all  that  he 
hath." 

And  now,  brethren,  beloved  in  the  Lord  !  comfort  one 
another  with  these  words.  We  mourn  for  our  honoured 
father,  thus  suddenly  removed  from  us,  his  spiritual  family. 
The  Church  of  Christ  is  mourning  for  the  disappoinment 
of  her  best  hope  and  fairest  promises.  Yet,  what  lessons 
of  heavenly  wisdom  may  we  learn  at  his  grave  !  We  are 
deprived  of  his  instruction,  of  his  counsel,  of  his  paternal 
government ;  but  his  example  is  left  for  our  study  and  imi- 
tation. "  He  being  dead,  yet  spcakd/i."  He  approved 
himself  to  his  heavenly  Master  as  a  faithful  and  wise  stew- 
ard ;  we  also,  each  one  of  us,  have  some  place  of  service 


m 

hi  the  same  great  household.  The  hour  is  coming,  when 
we  also  shall  be  called  to  "  give  account  of  our  steward- 
ship ;  for  we  may  be  no  longer  stewards."  His  day  of 
trial  was  suddenly  and  abruptly  closed  ;  ours  is  still  passing, 
but  ours  may  close  suddenly  and  abruptly  too.  Oh  !  let 
not  this  warning  be  unimproved  by  any  one  that  hears 
me.  Lay  it  seriously  to  heart.  You  have  heard  it  fre- 
quently before ;  you  have  now  heard  it  as  it  were  audibly 
proclaimed  by  a  voice  from  heaven — "  Be  ye  ready  also  : 
for  the  Son  of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye  think 
not."  Learn  this  lesson  from  your  sorrow,  and  you  will 
have  cause  to  rejoice  for  ever:  "  Gird  up  the  loins  of 
your  mind;  be  sober,  and  hope  to  the  end  for  the  grace 
that  is  to  be  brought  unto  you  at  the  revelation  of  Jesus 
Christ." 

Yet  suffer  me,  my  brethren,  before  I  leave  you,  to  suggest 
what  appears  to  me  the  best  and  most  appropriate  testimony 
of  your  regard  and  reverence  for  his  memory.  You  re- 
member, when  our  blessed  Lord  was  now  about  to  ascend 
into  heaven,  his  thrice-repeated  question  to  the  disciple 
who  was  thenceforward  his  strenuous  and  faithful  servant, 
**  Simon,  lovest  thou  me  f"  How  deeply  did  the  tender 
and  affectionate  command  of  Christ  sink  into  his  heart ! 
and  how  zealously  did  he  obey  the  injunction,  "  Feed  my 
sheep!"  The  time  and  circumstances  of  the  event  which 
we  are  now  deploring,  seem  to  point  out  to  your  kindness 
and  protection  those  who  were  the  objects  of  his  latest 
.care,  and  amongst  whom  he  left  his  latest  blessing;  I  mean 
the  native  Protestant  congregations  of  this  place. 

This  was  the  first  mission  established  by  the  venerable 
Swartz  ;  and  his  successors  have  for  many  years  watched 
ever  its  interests.    But  their  hands  are  feeble ;  and  th'e. 


177 


Church  w  hich  is  already  gathered  from  among  the  Heathen, 
requires  the  aid  of  a  nursing  father  to  rear  and  protect  its 
infancy.  We  fondly  hoped  it  had  found  that  protecting 
hand  in  our  late  excellent  Bishop.  He  loved,  and,  if  God 
had  spared  his  life,  he  would  have  cherished  them  as  his 
children.  A  few  minutes  only  before  he  expired,  he  spoke 
to  me  of  their  distress  and  helpless  state,  and  of  his  plans 
for  their  revival  and  perpetual  establishment.  Brethren  ! 
I  commend  them  now  to  you.  I  leave  them  with  confi- 
dence to  your  protection,  your  patronage,  your  support. 
I  know  you  will  not  leave  them  destitute.  I  know  you  will 
not  suffer  the  plans  just  formed  for  their  benefit  to  fall  to 
the  ground.  Your  love  for  his  memory  forbids  me  to  fear 
it ;  above  all,  your  love  and  gratitude  to  Him  who  hath 
purchased  both  them  and  you  with  his  own  blood,  forbids 
me  to  fear  it.  Surely,  if  our  departed  friend  could  now 
speak  to  you  from  his  place  of  rest,  this  would  be  his  earnest 
appeal  to  your  hearts — "  Feed  my  lambs  /"  and  if  now 
his  happy  spirit  still  hovers  over  us,  and  beholds  our  labour 
of  love,  he  will  indeed  rejoice  in  this  proof  of  your  Chris- 
tian faith,  that  you  love  those  little  ones  for  whom  Christ 
died.  Your  excellent  pastor  will  detail  to  you  the  necessi- 
ties of  the  mission,  its  capabilities  of  extended  usefulness, 
and  the  plans  which  had  been  arranged  for  its  improvement. 
Xiet  your  bounty  carry  those  plans  into  effect,  and  you 
could  not,  I  am  well  persuaded,  raise  a  more  noble  monu- 
ment over  this  dear  and  hallowed  grave. 

And  you,  my  fellow-servants,  my  fathers  and  brethren 
in  Christ,  pardon  me,  I  beseech  you,  that  my  affection  has 
carried  me  on  thus  far  to  speak  of  him  whom  we  all  loved, 
when  I  should  rather  have  learned  from  you.  I  feel  that  I 
am  most  unworthy  to  speak  of  him ;  but  I  could  not  give 

Q 


i?8 


to  another" the  chief  place  in  sorrow.  Let  us  pray  for  our« 
selves  and  for  each  other ;  remembering  that  the  time  is 
short,  and  the  work  which  is  committed  to  our  hands  is  not 
ours,  hut  His  that  sent  us.  Let  us  wait  on  our  ministry  witli 
deeper  humility,  and  with  increasing  earnestness.  We  are 
still  on  the  field  of  battle ;  let  us  not  put  off  our  armour, 
but  let  us  exhort  and  strengthen  one  another  to  be  faithful 
unto  death,  that  we  may  receive  the  crown  of  life. 

We  need  much  the  help  of  the  Almighty  for  the  strength- 
ening and  refreshing  of  our  souls.  Let  us  seek  it  at  the 
lable  of  our  Lord.  There  we  shall  best  remember  our  sins, 
■where  we  see  the  sacrifice  provided  for  them ;  there  we 
shall  most  surely  find  the  influences  of  His  Spirit,  where 
He  has  promised  to  vouchsafe  them ;  there  we  shall  most 
effectually  obtain  the  confirmation  of  our  faith,  and  hope, 
and  love ;  and  thence  returning,  purified  by  sorrow  and 
prepared  for  our  various  services  on  earth,  we  may  look 
forward  with  humble  hope  to  that  day,  when  "  a  great 
voice  shall  be  heard  from  heaven,  saying,  Behold,  the 
tabernacle  of  GOD  is  with  men,  and  he  will  dwell  with 
them,  and  they  shall  be  his  people,  and  he  will  be  their 
GOD.  And  GOD  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes;  and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow, 
nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain :  for  the 
former  things  are  passed  away. 


179 


At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Trichinopoly,  held  m 
St.  John's  Church,  on  Monday,  the  ldth  of  April, 
1836, 

Major- General  Hall  in  the  chair, 

Resolved, 

I.  That  this  meeting,  desirous  of  testifying  their  afiec* 
tionate  regard  and  veneration  for  the  memory  of  the  late 
lamented  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  do  enter  into  a  sub- 
scription in  aid  of  the  Trichinopoly  mission,  whose  interests 
engaged  the  last  hours  of  his  lordship's  life. 

II.  That  this  fund  be  intrusted  to  a  committee  of  ma- 
nagement, consisting  of  the  general  of  the  division,  the  com- 
manding officer  of  Trichinopoly,  one  of  the  three  judges  of 
the  circuit  court,  the  collector  of  the  district,  the  chaplain 
and  missionary  (provided  the  gentlemen  filling  these  situa- 
tions are  willing  to  undertake  the  charge,)  and  seven  other 
members,  to  be  chosen  by  the  subscribers  at  large,  at  their 
general  meetings.  It  is  necessary  that  it  be  distinctly  un- 
derstood, that  the  committee  merely  act  as  trustees  for  the 
right  application  of  the  funds,  without  exerting  any  inter- 
ference in  the  internal  economy  of  the  mission. 

III.  That  the  reverend  missionaries  of  Tanjore  be  re- 
quested to  suggest,  from  time  to  time,  the  best  means  for 
supporting  the  existing  mission  at  Trichinopoly,  until  a 
missionary  be  regularly  appointed  to  this  latter  station. 

IV.  That  the  office  of  patron  to  the  Trichinopoly  3Iission 
Fund  be  reserved  vacant,  and  that  the  succeeding  Bishop 
of  Calcutta,  on  his  arrival  in  India,  be  requested  to  fill  it; 
and  that  the  venerable  Archdeacon  of  Madras  be  requested 
to  accept  the  office  of  vice-patron. 


ISO 


V.  That  books  be  immediately  opened  for  donations 
and  subscriptions,  and  that  the  chaplain  be  requested  to 
receive  the  sums  subscribed,  until  the  committee  have  pre- 
vailed upon  one  of  their  members  to  accept  the  oflice  of 
treasurer. 

VI.  That  the  Rev.  Thomas  Robinson  be  requested  to 
present  these  resolutions  to  the  venerable  the  Archdeacon 
of  Calcutta,  and  to  state,  as  he  can  from  his  own  personal 
knowledge,  the  urgent  need  in  which  the  mission  stands  of 
a  regularly  ordained  and  resident  missionary,  and  that  the 
Archdeacon  will  endeavour  to  grant  one  as  early  as  possible. 

VII.  That  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be 
respectfully  submitted  to  the  honourable  llic  governor  in 
-  ouncil  for  his  information  and  approval,  and  that  the  aid 
of  government  be  solicited  for  carrying  into  effect  the  in- 
tentions of  our  late  revered  prelate,  the  funds  of  the  pre- 
sent mission  being  at  their  lowest  ebb. 

VIII.  That  the  chaplain  be  requested  to  accept  the  office 
of  secretary  to  the  T richinopoly  Mission  Fund  pro  tempore. 

IX.  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  voted  to  Major- 
General  Hall,  for  his  kind  and  conciliatory  conduct  in  the 
•hair. 

(Signed)  Jos.  Wkiciit,  Secrctar;/, 


Trkhinopoht,  April  10/7*, 


APPENDIX. 


Colombo,  September  13,  1825. 

My  Rev.  Brethren, 

Having  been  consulted  by  you,  and  the  other  clergy 
of  this  archdeaconry,  on  the  propriety  of  engaging  with 
missionaries  of  other  religious  sects,  in  solemn  conference 
on  topics  connected  with  your  work  among  the  Heathen, 
such  as  are  now  statedly  holden  at  Jaffna  and  at  this  place, 
I  have  first  to  express  my  thankfulness  to  God  for  the 
brotherly  and  tolerant  spirit  which,  since  my  arrival  in  th& 
island,  I  have  noticed  among  those  who,  with  less  or  greater 
differences  of  opinions,  and  discrepancies  of  doctrine  and 
discipline  abundantly  to  be  deplored,  yet  hold,  as  I  am 
persuaded,  the  same  faith  in  the  Cross,  and  shall  be  found, 
as  I  trust,  in  the  last  day,  on  the  same  Rock  of  Salvation. 
Nor  am  I  less  thankful  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  things  for 
the  affectionate  and  orderly  spirit  which  I  find  in  you,  my 
brethren,  and  which  has  led  you  voluntarily  to  submit  a 
question  in  which  your  hearts,  as  I  have  reason  to  believe, 
are  much  engaged,  to  the  counsel  of  your  ordinary.  May 
God  continue  and  increase  this  mutual  confidence  between 
us,  and  conduct  it,  and  all  things  else,  to  His  glory,  and 
our  salvation. 

The  meeting  in  question  has  been  described  to  me  as  a 
conference  of  ministers  and  missionaries  in  a  certain  dis~. 
trict,  held  in  each  other's  house  in  rotation,  attended  by 
Q2 


183 


the  ministers  or  missionaries  themselves,  their  wives  and 
families,  and  occasionally  by  devout  laymen  from  their 
vicinity.  These  meetings  are  described  as  beginning  and 
ending  with  prayer,  led,  indifferently,  by  ministers  of  differ- 
ent sects,  or  by  their  lay  friends,  but  not  by  the  females, 
and  as  broken  by  hymns,  in  which  all  present  join.  The 
remainder  of  the  time  is  occupied  by  a  friendly  meal  toge- 
ther— in  the  comparison,  by  the  missionaries,  of  the  different 
encouragements  and  obstacles  which  they  meet  with  among 
the  Heathen,  and  in  discussion  of  the  best  means  by  which 
their  common  work  can  be  forwarded.  It  appears  that  this 
practice  commenced  at  Jaffna,  under  circumstances  which 
made  it  very  desireable  for  the  missionaries  of  the  English 
Church  not  only  to  live  on  friendly  and  courteous  terms 
with  the  missionaries  sent  from  America,  but  to  profit  by 
the  experience  and  example  of  these  missionaries  in  their 
manner  of  addressing  the  Heathen.  And  it  appears,  also, 
that  these  conferences  have  been  strictly  private  and  do- 
mestic, and  that  there  has  been  no  interchange  or  confusion 
of  the  public  or  appropriate  functions  of  the  Christian 
ministry  between  yourselves  and  the  friends  who  unhappily 
iifter  from  you  in  points  of  Church  discipline.  Under  such 
circumstances  it  is  probable  that,  by  God's  blessing,  many 
advantages  may  have  arisen  to  you  all  from  these  confer- 
ences; and,  without  inquiring  whether  these  advantages 
might  have  been,  in  the  first  instance,  attainable  in  a  man- 
ner less  liable  to  inconvenience  or  misrepresentation,  I  am 
happy  that  I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  advise  their  ces- 
sation, now  they  are  established,  and  that  your  dereliction 
of  them  might  greatly  interrupt  the  charitable  terms  on 
which  you  now  live  with  your  neighbours. 

There  are,  however,  some  serious  dangers  to  which  sucht 


1«3 

meetings  arc  liable,  against  which  it  is  my  duty  to  caution 
you,  and  by  avoiding  which  you  may  keep  your  intercourse 
with  your  fellow-labourers,  as  now,  always  harmless  and 
unblamed.    The  first  of  these  is  the  risk  of  levelling,  in 
the  eyes  of  others,  and  even  in  your  own,  the  peculiar 
claims  to  attention  on  the  part  of  men,  and  the  peculiar 
hopes  of  grace  and  blessing  from  the  Most  High,  which,  as 
we  believe,  are  possessed  by  the  holders  of  an  apostolic 
commission  over  those  whose  call  to  the  ministry  is  less 
regular,  though  their  labours  are  no  less  sincere.   God  for- 
bid, my  brethren,  that  I  should  teach  you  to  think  on  this 
account  highly  of  yourselves  !   Far  otherwise.   This  sense- 
of  the  advantages  which  we  enjoy  should  humble  us  to  the 
dust,  when  we  bethink  us  who  we  are,  and  what  we  ought 
to  be,  who  have  received  the  Spirit  of  God  by  the  dispen- 
sation of  a  long  line  of  saints  and  martyrs — who  are  called 
to  follow  the  steps  of  Ridley,  Hooper,  Latimer,  Rowland, 
Taylor,  and  Henry  Martyn ;  and  who  are  by  the  external 
dispensation,  at  least,  of  Providence,  the  inheritors  of  that 
grace  which  fell  on  St.  Paul.  But  humbly,  yea  meanly,  as 
we  are  bound  to  think  of  ourselves,  we  must  not  appear  to 
undervalue  our  apostolic  bond  of  union  ;  and  the  more  so 
here  in  India,  inasmuch  as  it  is  the  great  link  which  binds 
us  to  the  ancient  Syrian  Church,  and  one  principal  means 
whereby  we  hope,  with  the  blessing  of  our  Master,  to  effect 
its  gradual  reformation.    The  neglect,  or  abandonment,  or 
apparent  abandonment,  of  this  principle,  is  the  first  danger 
which  I  apprehend  to  be  incidental  to  such  meetings  as  I 
have  described.    To  guard  against  it,  an  additional  care 
and  caution  will  be  desircablc,  in  your  steady  adherence, 
wherever  this  is  practicable,  to  the  external  ceremonies 
and  canonical  observances  of  our  Church ;  and,  without 


184 


estranging  yourselves  from  your  dissenting  friends,  by  cul- 
tivating a  yet  closer  union  with  those  who  are,  properly 
speaking,  your  brother  clergy.  With  this  view  I  would 
recommend  not  only  the  measures  which  I  have  lately 
suggested,  of  frequent  meetings  of  the  clergy  of  this  arch- 
deaconry for  the  purposes  of  mutual  counsel  and  comfort, 
but  a  readiness  on  your  part,  who  are  missionaries,  to  offi- 
'  eiate  whenever  you  are  invited,  and  can  do  it  without 
neglect  of  your  peculiar  functions,  in  the  churches  of  the 
colony,  and  in  rendering  assistance  to  the  chaplains.  By 
this  occasional  attention  (for,  for  many  reasons,  I  would 
have  it  occasional  only)  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  your  own 
countrymen,  several  important  ends  will  be  obtained  ;  you 
will  yourselves  derive  advantage  from  keeping  up  the  habit 
of  English  composition  and  public  speaking ;  you  will  en- 
dear yourselves  to  your  brethren  and  countrymen  by  the 
services  which  you  will  render  them  ;  and,  above  all,  you 
wilt  identify  yourselves,  in  the  eyes  of  all  men,  with  the 
established  Church,  and  distinguish  yourselves  from  those 
other  preachers  whom  that  Church  cannot  consistently 
recognise. 

Another  precaution  which  occurs  to  me  as  desireable,. 
against  the  risk  to  which  I  have  alluded,  is  that  it  be  per- 
fectly understood  that  the  meetings  are  for  the  discussion 
of  such  topics  only  as  belong  to  your  distinct  functions  as 
missionaries  to  the  Heathen.  For  this  reason  I  would 
recommend  that  the  meeting  be  confined  to  missionaries 
only,  with  their  families,  and  such  devout  laymen  (for  I  am 
unwilling  to  damp  or  seem  to  discountenance  their  laudable 
zeal)  who  have  already  joined  themselves  to  your  number. 
The  other  clcrsry  of  the  archdeaconry  will  find,  I  conceive, 
a  sufficient  bond  of  union,  and  source  of  mutual  comf«; 


i 


185 


and  advice,  in  the  clerical  meeting.  There  are  other 
inconveniences  and  improprieties  incidental  to  what  arc 
usually  called  prayer-meetings,  which  have  led  to  their 
rejection  by  the  great  majority  of  the  Church  of  England, 
and,  among  the  rest,  by  some  excellent  men,  whom  the 
conduct  pursued  by  those  with  whom  their  chief  intimacy 
lay  would  have  naturally  inclined  to  favour  them.  I  mean, 
among  others,  the  late  Mr.  Scott,  of  Aston  Sandford,  and 
the  late  Mr.  Robinson,  of  St.  Mary's,  Leicester.  Such  is 
the  practice  reprobated  by  the  apostle,  of  a  number  of 
persons  coming  together,  with  each  his  psalm,  his  prayer, 
his  exhortation ;  the  effect  of  which  is  not  only  often  con- 
fusion, but,  what  is  worse  than  confusion,  self-conceit  and 
rivalry,  each  labouring  to  excel  his  brother  in  the  choice  of 
his  expressions  and  the  outward  earnestness  of  his  address 
— and  the  bad  effects  of  emulation  mixing  with  actions  in 
which,  of  all  others,  humility  and  forgetfulness  of  self  are 
necessary.  Such,  too,  is  that  warmth  of  feeling  and  lan- 
guage, derived  rather  from  imitation  than  conviction,  which, 
under  the  circumstances  which  I  have  mentioned,  are  apt 
to  degenerate  into  enthusiastic  excitement  or  irreverent 
familiarity. 

And  though  it  is  only  due  both  to  yourselves,  my  bre- 
thren, and  to  your  dissenting  fellow-labourers,  to  state  that 
all  which  I  have  seen  or  heard  of  you  sets  me  at  ease  on 
these  subjects,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned ;  yet  it  will  be 
well  for  you  to  take  care,  lest,  by  setting  an  example  of 
such  an  institution  in  your  own  persons,  you  encourage  less 
instructed  individuals  among  the  laity  to  adopt  a  practice 
which,  in  their  case,  has  almost  always,  I  believe,  been  in- 
jurious. It  is  on  this  account  chiefly,  that  with  no  feelings 
of  disrespect  or  suspicion  towards  the  excellent  laymen 


186 


who,  as  I  understand,  have  joined  your  society,  I  would 
recommend,  if  my  counsel  has  any  weight  (and  I  offer  it  as 
my  counsel  only,)  that,  though  there  is  no  impropriety  in 
their  taking  their  turns  in  reading  the  Scriptures,  and 
mingling  in  the  discussions  which  arise  on  the  subjects 
connected  with  your  conference,  they  would  abstain  from 
leading  the  society  in  prayer,  except  when  the  meeting  is 
held  in  one  of  their  own  houses,  and  when,  as  master  of 
the  family,  they  may  consistently  offer  up  what  will  then 
be  their  family  devotion. 

I  would,  lastly,  recommend  to  you  earnestly,  that  both 
your  discussions  and  your  prayers  have,  as  their  leading 
object,  the  success  of  missions,  and  the  means  whereby 
missions  may,  with  God's  blessing,  be  rendered  successful ; 
and  that  you  would  deviate  as  little  as  possible  into  other 
fields  of  ecclesiastical  inquiry. 

With  these  precautions,  I  trust  that  unmingled  good  may, 
through  His  blessing  who  is  the  God  of  peace  and  order, 
emanate  from  your  religious  conferences. 

With  reference  to  the  employment  of  laymen  to  officiate 
in  your  congregation,  I  would  say,  that  where  a  missionary 
is  as  yet  unable  to  read  prayers,  or  preach,  in  the  language 
of  his  hearers,  he  may  unquestionably  employ  a  native 
assistant  to  do  both,  provided  the  prayers  are  those  of  our 
Church,  and  the  discourse  a  translation  from  his  own  dic- 
tation or  writing.  The  use  of  interpreters  is  not  only 
sanctioned  by  the  necessity  of  the  case,  but  by  the  express 
authority  of  Scripture  and  Ecclesiastical  History.  And 
even  where  this  necessity  has  not  existed,  but  where  any 
convenience  has  been  obtained  either  by  priest  or  people, 
it  has  been  always  the  custom  of  the  Church  to  admit  lay- 
catechists  (under  the  direction  of  the  minister)  to  read  the 


187 


Scriptures,  to  give  out  psalms,  to  repeat  the  creeds,  and 
even,  when  any  convenience  results  from  it,  the  litany,  clown 
to  the  Lord's  prayer  and  the  following  collects,  which  the 
rubric  assigns  to  the  priest.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to 
observe,  that,  both  in  this  and  the  preceding  case,  the 
absolution  must  not  be  read,  nor  must  the  sacraments  be 
administered,  by  any  but  the  regularly  ordained  minister. 
To  3'our  questions  respecting  baptism,  I  reply, 
1st.  We  are  not,  as  I  conceive,  allowed  to  baptize  the 
infant  child  of  Heathen  parents,  where  there  is  reason  to 
fear  that  such  child  will  be  brought  up  in  Heathenism. 

2d.  We  may  not  even  baptize  the  infant  child  of  Heathen 
parents  on  the  promise  of  such  parents  to  procure  for  it  a 
Christian  education,  unless  security  of  some  kind  is  actually 
given  for  its  adoption,  and  removal  from  its  parents'  corrupt 
example,  by  its  sponsor,  or  some  other  Christian. 

3d.  We  may,  I  apprehend,  baptize  the  children  of  a 
Christian  father  by  a  Heathen  mother,  though  they  are  living 
together  unmarried,  provided  the  father  declares  his  inten- 
tion of  giving  his  child  a  Christian  education,  and  there 
are  sufficient  sponsors  to  add  their  promises  to  that  of  the 
parent.  My  reason  for  this  decision  is,  that,  as  no  pro- 
fessed Christian,  however  wicked  his  life,  is  beyond  the 
outward  means  of  grace,  and  the  Lord  may,  for  all  we 
know,  have  still  merciful  purposes  concerning  him,  so  we 
cannot,  for  the  father's  sin,  exclude  the  child  from  that 
promise  which  is  made  to  the  children,  and  the  children's 
children,  of  believers.  But  where  the  mother  is  Christian, 
and  not  the  father,  it  is  doubtful  whether  she  may  have 
sufficient  property  in,  or  authority  over  her  child,  to  ensure 
it  a  Christian  bringing  up.  Nor  is  it  a  point  on  which  the 
promise  of  a  Heathen  father  <;an  be  received  as  sufficient; 


its  actual  adoption,  therefore,  by  some  Christian  friend  or 
sponsor,  must  in  this  last  case  be  stipulated  for. 

4th.  The  same  principle  appears  to  apply  to  cases  when 
one  only  of  a  married  couple  is  a  professing  Christian; 
though  here  some  latitude  of  discretion  may  be  allowed,  in 
case  of  danger  of  death,  of  extreme  maternal  solicitude,  of 
known  good  character  on  the  believing  mother's  side,  and 
the  known  probability  that  may  exist,  that  her  wishes,  and 
the  endeavours  of  the  sponsors,  will  not  be  frustrated  in 
her  infant's  education. 

5th.  The  case  of  nominal  Christians,  notoriously  addicted 
to  Heathen  practices,  must  depend,  in  part,  on  the  nature 
and  extent  of  the  evil ;  and  still  more  on  the  character  and 
sufficiency  of  the  sponsors.  Mere  idolatrous  or  superstitious 
habits  in  the  parents,  if  not  attended  with  open  apostacy, 
cannot  exclude  the  infant  when  properly  vouched  for  from 
another  quarter.  The  parent,  however  blinded  and  sinful, 
has  not  lost  the  external  privileges  of  Christianity,  and  the 
infant  cannot  be  deprived  of  a  privilege  which  the  parent 
has  not  forfeited. 

6th.  The  same  rule  will  apply  yet  more  strongly  to  Chris- 
tians of  whom  we  know  no  further  harm  than  their  ignorance 
and  neglect  of  public  worship. 

7th.  It  will  have  been  already  seen  that  we  have  no  right 
to  refuse  baptism  to  children  actually  adopted  by  Christians, 
provided  those,  or  other  Christians,  become  their  securities. 

8th.  With  regard  to  the  case  of  children  thus  adopted 
when  past  the  age  of  six  years,  and  on  the  marks  of  conver- 
sion which  may  then  be  required  in  them,  it  appears  that, 
at  this  age,  a  child  who  has  not,  from  its  earliest  infancy, 
enjoyed  a  Christian  education,  can  seldom  know  much  ot" 
Christianity.    Such  may  be  admitted  as  infants,  with  proper 


189 


sponsors,  and  it  may  very  often  be  desireable  thus  to  admit 
them.  It  is  not  easy  to  fix  an  age  at  which  infancy  ceases, 
which  must  depend  on  intellect,  opportunity,  and  many  other 
considerations.  "  In  subjecto  capaci,"  conversion  is  doubt- 
less required;  and,  where  capacity  may  be  soon  expected, 
it  is  generally  desireable  to  wait.  But  in  cases  of  sickness, 
or  where  any  good  or  charitable  end  is  answered  by  the 
immediate  baptism  of  such  children,  and  where,  as  before, 
sufficient  securities  are  present,  it  appears  that  we  are  not 
warranted  in  denying  them  God's  ordinance. 

9th.  The  Church  of  Rome,  though  grievously  corrupted, 
is  nevertheless  a  part  of  the  visible  Church  of  Christ :  we 
may  not  therefore  repel  the  children  of  such  parents  from 
baptism,  if  they  are  vouched  for  by  their  sponsors  in  the 
words  of  our  service;  which,  it  may  be  noticed,  are  wisely 
so  framed  as  to  contain  nothing  but  those  points  on  which 
all  Christians  are  engaged.  The  direction  at  the  end  to 
teach  our  Church  catechism,  is  a  counsel  from  us  to  the 
sponsors,  no  engagement  entered  into  by  them.  It  follows 
that  we  are  not  to  refuse  baptism  to  the  children  of  Roman 
Catholic  parents,  with  sufficient  Protestant  sponsors;  I 
even  doubt  whether  we  are  at  liberty  even  with  sponsors 
of  their  parents'  sect. 

But  in  all  these  questions  I  cannot  forbear  observing, 
that  we  may  remark  the  wisdom  of  that  primitive  institu- 
tion (which  our  Church  has  wisely  retained)  of  godfathers 
and  godmothers,  as  affording  a  way  of  receiving  into  the 
flock  of  Christ  those  children  for  whose  education  their 
own  parents  cannot  satisfactorily  answer.  An  ignorant  or 
immoral  father  may  be  himself,  for  the  present,  irreclaim- 
able ;  but  we  may  always  insist  that  the  sureties  whom  he 
adduces,  should  be  competently  informed,  and  of  a  life  no' 

R 


190 


openly  immoral.  And  though  the  decay  of  discipline  in 
our  own  country  has  grievously  impaired  the  value  of  such 
sponsors,  yet  a  missionary  among  the  Heathen  both  may 
and  ought  in  this  respect  to  exercise  a  sound  discretion ; 
both  examining  with  mildness,  informing  with  patience, 
and  with  firmness  and  temper  deciding  on  the  knowledge, 
faith,  and  holiness,  of  those  who  themselves  undertake  to 
be  the  guides  of  the  blind,  and  to  sow  the  seeds  of  know- 
ledge, holiness,  and  faith,  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  candi- 
dates for  salvation. 

That  God,  my  reverend  brethren,  may  increase  and 
strengthen  you  in  these  and  all  other  gifts  of  his  Spirit 
through  his  Son,  and  that  both  here  and  hereafter  his  bless- 
ing may  largely  follow  your  labours,  is  the  prayer  of 
Your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 


To  the  Reverend  Deocar  Schmid. 
[tit  answer  to  his  Letter  on  the  Re-ordination  of  Lutheran  Ministers.) 

Calcutta,  December  23,  1825. 

Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

The  great  press  of  business  with  which  I  have  had  to 
contend  ever  since  my  arrival  in  Calcutta,  has  prevented 
my  replying  to  your  letter  of  the  1st  of  November,  till  after 
the  event  occurred  from  which  you  wished  to  dissuade  me. 
I  can  assure  you,  however,  that,  though  your  arguments 
have  remained  unanswered,  they  have  been  carefully 
weighed  by  me ;  and  that,  though  I  have  concluded  by 
acting  differently,  I  think  highly  of  the  talent  which  sug- 
gested them. 


191 


I  have  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  enter  into  a  con- 
troversy connected  with  some  of  the  most  important  and 
difficult  questions  in  the  whole  field  of  polemic  divinity. 
I  only  wish  to  convince  you  that  I  have  not  been  inattentive 
to  your  letter,  and  to  set  you  right  on  some  points  on  which 
you  appear  to  have  misunderstood  me  in  our  last  conversa- 
tion. You  suppose  that  I  generally  admit  ordination  by 
presbyters  without  a  bishop  to  be  valid.  I  do  not  admit 
this.  All  I  said  is,  that  when  a  Christian  nation  has,  by 
unfortunate  circumstances,  lost  its  apostolical  succession  of 
bishops,  the  continuance  of  ministers  being  a  thing  absolutely 
needful  and  essential,  those  good  men  are  not  to  be  cen- 
sured who  perpetuate  it  by  the  best  means  in  their  power. 
And,  were  I  to  return  to  Germany,  I  would  again,  as 
before,  humbly  and  thankfully  avail  myself  of  the  preaching 
and  sacramental  ordinances  of  the  Lutheran  Evangelical 
Church,  not  doubting  that  they  are  a  true  Church  of  Christ, 
and  that  the  Spirit  of  God  is  with  them,  as  I  trust  he  is 
with  us  also. 

But  though  an  imperfect  ordination  may,  doubtless,  be 
accepted  by  our  Lord  and  common  Master,  and  though  a 
Church,  under  circumstances  such  as  I  have  described, 
may  remain  a  true  Church  still,  it  does  not  follow  that, 
where  this  supposed  deficiency  may  be  supplied,  it  may 
not  be  adviseable  for  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  either  to 
seek  for  fresh  orders  himself,  or  to  counsel  others  to  do  so. 
And  this  may  be  more  especially  adviseable  where  his,  or 
their,  ministerial  utility  is  likely  to  be  much  augmented  by 
a  closer  union  with  a  Church  under  (what  1  conceive  to 
be)  the  ancient  discipline.  We  (that  is,  the  members  of 
our  Church)  have  no  right  or  inclination  to  judge  other 
national  churches.   But  our  own  flocks  have  a  sacred  right 


192 

to  be  well  satisfied  as  to  the  divine  commission  of  those 
whom  their  spiritual  rulers  set  over  them.  Even  where 
the  smallest  doubt  exists  of  the  perfection  of  the  orders 
received,  and  their  conformity  with  apostolical  practice,  it 
may  be  a  part  of  Christian  prudence  to  choose  the  safer 
side.  And  even  where  this  doubt  is  not  felt  by  ourselves, 
yet,  if  its  existence  in  others  impedes  our  usefulness,  we 
have  the  highest  possible  warrant,  in  the  case  of  St.  Paul 
and  Timothy,  for  condescending,  even  in  a  more  material 
point,  to  the  failings  and  prejudices  of  our  brethren. 
Accordingly,  if  a  preacher,  ordained  in  the  method  practised 
in  Germany,  foresees  a  marked  advantage  to  Christ's  cause 
in  a  closer  alliance  with  his  Episcopalian  brethren,  I  see 
not  that  he  dishonours  his  previous  commission  by  seeking 
our  prayers  and  blessing  in  the  form  which  we  think  most 
conformable  to  God's  will.  And  the  humility  is,  surely, 
any  thing  but  blameable,  which  stoops  for  a  time  to  even 
an  inferior  degree  and  inferior  duties  than  those  which  he 
has  already  exercised. 

For  I  see  no  weight  iri"  the  argument,  that  holy  orders 
cannot  be  repeated  without  profanation.  In  the  first  place, 
it  is  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  the  first  orders  were  valid 
or  no;  and,  in  the  very  fact  of  fresh  orders  being  given 
without  a  formal  renunciation  of  the  former,  it  is  plain  that 
the  fresh  orders  are  tacitly  "  sub  conditione."  But,  secondly, 
there  is  nothing,  as  I  conceive,  in  the  nature  of  ordination 
which  makes  it  profane  to  repeat  it  on  just  grounds,  or 
reasonable  scruple  on  the  part  of  the  Church  or  its  rulers. 
Ordination  stands  on  a  different  ground  from  baptism.  It 
is  not  a  new  creation,  but  a  solemn  devotion  of  a  man  to  a 
particular  office,  accompanied  by  prayer,  and,  as  we  be- 
lieve, an  accession  of  the  Holy  Spirit,    But,  though  a 


man  can  be  only  once  regenerate,  he  may  be  often  renewed 
and  quickened  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  there  is  no  reason, 
d  priori,  why  he  should  not  receive  an  outward  ordination 
(as  he  certainly  may  receive  an  inward  call)  to  a  new 
sphere  of  action  in  the  Church,  as  well  as  to  a  new  office 
in  it.  I  do  not  say  that  this  has  ever  been  the  practice  of 
the  Church,  though  I  still  think  that  something  very  analo- 
gous to  it  may  be  found  in  Acts  xiii.  But  I  say  this  to 
show  the  difference  between  the  two  cases  of  re-baptizing 
and  re-ordaining,  and  that  the  same  risk  of  profanation 
does  not  attach  to  the  last,  as,  I  admit,  does  in  every 
doubtful  case  to  the  former. 

Accordingly,  I  need  not  remind  you  that  the  great  body 
of  ancient  Christians  allowed  the  validity  of  baptism  (the 
toatcr  and  words  being  correct,)  whether  conferred  by 
heretics,  schismatics,  or  laymen.  But,  though  the  ancient 
Church  never  re-baptized,  they  most  certainly  re-ordained 
in  the  case  of  the  Meletian  and  Novatian  clergy,  as  appears 
from  Theodoret,  Eccles.  Hist.  I.  i.  ix.,  and  Cone.  Nicen. 
can.  8. 

Still  I  have  no  right  or  desire  to  judge  devout  and 
learned  divines  of  another  national  church.  If  they  come 
to  sojourn  among  us,  satisfied  with  the  commission  which 
they  have  received,  or  if  they  desire  our  help  in  their 
efforts  to  convert  the  Heathen,  I  gladly  meet  them  as 
Christians  and  fellow-labourers.  I  rejoice  sincerely  that 
Christ  is  made  known  so  widely  through  their  means.  I 
gladly  admit  them  (as  I  should  desire  my  self  to  be  admitted 
in  Germany  or  Holland)  to  the  communion  of  our  Church, 
and  to  all  that  interchange  of  good  will  and  good  offices 
(as  in  the  case  of  the  missionary  societies  of  our  Church) 
which  is  essential  to  our  carrying  on  the  Gospel  work  in 
R2 


194 


concert.  But  I  am  not  inconsistent  with  these  feelings,  if 
I  think  that  the  difference  between  us,  though  it  should  not 
interrupt  our  communion,  is  in  itself  a  misfortune  to  be 
remedied.  Nor  do  I  feel  the  less  love  and  reverence  for 
their  character  and  talents,  when  I  earnestly  wish  them  to 
become  in  all  points  like  ourselves,  except  these  sins  of 
infirmity  of  which  I  am  mournfully  conscious. 
I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

Your  sincere  friend  and  servant  in  Christ, 

REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 


Letter  to  Mar  Athanasius. 

To  the  excellent  and  learned  Father  Mar  Athanasius, 
Bishop  and  Metropolitan  of  all  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
India  which  walk  after  the  rule  of  the  Syrians,  Mar 
Reginald,  by  the  grace  of  God,  Bishop  of  Calcutta; 
grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  from  God  the  Father,  and  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

I  have  earnestly  desired,  beloved  brother  in  the  Lord,  to 
hear  that  the  Lord  hath  prospered  thy  journey  from  Bombay, 
and  that  thou  farest  well,  and  art  in  good  health  in  the  land 
of  Malabar.  (I  hope  that  they  have  rejoiced  at  thy  coming, 
even  as  they  rejoiced  at  the  coming  of  Mar  Basilius,  Mar 
Gregorius,  and  Mar  Johannes.*)    And  my  prayer  to  God 

*  The  last  Syrian  bishops  (before  Mar  Athanasius  in  1825)  who  went 
to  rule  the  Churchill  Malabar,  in  1751;  all  the  metropolitans  after  them 
(called  Mar  Dionysjns,  or  Cyrillus,  or  Philoxenus  severally.)  being 
Indian  bishops  of  their  ordaining. 


195 


for  thee  is,  that,  even  as  He  led  the  patriarch  Abraham  from 
his  country  and  from  the  midst  of  his  kindred,  through  faith, 
to  a  strange  and  distant  land,  He  may  even  thus  guide, 
protect,  and  prosper  thee,  and  give  thee  health  and  grace, 
and  every  good  gift,  and  increase  unto  thee  the  love  of  thy 
flock,  and  that  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  may  be  multiplied  to 
thee  from  them;  as  it  is  written,  "  Commit  thy  way  unto 
the  Lord,  and  trust  in  Him,  and  He  shall  bring  it  to 
pass." 

Especially  I  have  been  desirous  to  hear  from  thee  of  the 
good  estate  of  our  brethren,  the  faithful  in  Malabar,  the 
bishops,  presbyters,  and  deacons;  and  also  of  my  own  chil- 
dren in  Christ,  the  English  presbyters  who  sojourn  among 
you  at  Cotyam:  may  God  reward  you  according  to  your 
kindness  towards  them,  and  may  the  brotherly  affection  be- 
tween you  and  them  be  daily  increased  and  strengthened ! 

Furthermore,  I  make  known  to  thy  friendship,  that  the 
desire  of  my  heart,  and  my  prayer  to  the  Lord,  is,  that  the 
koly  name  of  Jesus  may  be  yet  further  known  among  all 
nations ;  and  also,  that  all  that  love  the  Lord  may  love  one 
another,  to  the  intent  that  they  which  are  without  may  be- 
hold the  unity  and  peace  that  is  among  you,  and  glorify  God 
in  the  day  of  visitation.  Like  as  was  the  desire  of  heart, 
and  prayer  to  God,  of  the  blessed  Thomas  Middleton,  who 
fed  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  Episcopate  before  me,  whose 
memory  is  blessed  among  the  saints  of  Christ,  whether  they 
be  of  the  family  of  England  or  of  India;  but  they  are  not 
two  families,  but  one,  which  is  named  after  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  who  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  in  whom 
all  nations,  tribes,  and  languages  are  united,  and  shall  bo 
glorified  together. 

I  also  pray  thee  to  write  me  word  of  the  health  of  thyself 


190 


and  all  that  are  with  thee,  likewise  of  the  health  of  my  own 
children,  the  presbyters  of  England,  and  what  is  their  con- 
versation among  you. 

Furthermore,  I  hope,  if  the  Lord  will,  to  pass  to  the  cities 
of  Madras,  Tanjore,  and  Trichinopoly,  visiting  the  churches 
there  that  are  subject  to  me.  And  I  desire,  with  God's 
pleasure,  to  pass  on  thence  to  salute  thee,  my  brother,  and 
the  churches  under  thee,  that  I  may  be  filled  with  joy 
while  I  behold  your  order,  and  am  a  participator  with  you 
in  prayers.  And  if  there  be  any  thing  more  which  I  have 
not  written,  it  may  be  told  when  I  come  to  thee ;  for  the 
daughter  of  the  voice*  is  better  than  the  son  of  the  ink  ; 
and  it  is  a  good  time  when  a  man  speaketh  face  to  face 
with  his  friend. 

This  letter  is  sent  unto  thee  by  the  hand  of  a  learned 
and  faithful  English  presbyter,  John  Doran,  one  of  the 
presbyters  from  before  me,  who  proposeth,  if  thou  givest 
leave,  to  sojourn  in  Cotyam,  even  as  the  presbyters  Ben- 
jamin Bayley,  Joseph  Fenn,  and  Henry  Baker  have  so- 
journed until  now  with  license  of  the  godly  bishops  of  the 
Church  of  Malabar,  to  teach  learning  and  piety  to  all  who 
thirst  after  instruction,  doing  good,  and  giving  no  cause  of 
offence.  And  I  beseech  thee,  brother,  for  my  sake,  and 
the  sake  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  that  thou  wouldest  receive 
him  as  a  son,  and  as  a  faithful  servant  of  our  Lord,  who  is 
alone,  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  most  high  in  the  glory  of  God 
the  Father  ;  to  Him,  therefore,  be  all  honour  and  dominion 
for  ever  !  Amen. 

Moreover  I  entreat  thee,  brother,  to  beware  of  the  emis- 

*  "  The  daughter  of  the  voice,"  in  Syrian,  means  no  more  than  a 
Void,    It  is  a  very  usual  expression  for  it. 


197 


saries  of  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  whose  hands  have  heen 
dipped  in  the  blood  of  the  saints,  from  whose  tyranny  our 
Church  in  England  hath  been  long  freed  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  and  we  hope  to  continue  in  that  freedom  for  ever ;  of 
whom  are  the  Metropolitans  of  Goa,  the  Bishop  of  Cran- 
ganor,  and  he  at  Verapoli,  who  have,  in  time  past,  done 
the  Indian  Church  much  evil.  I  pray  that  those  of  thy 
churches  in  Malabar*  who  are  yet  subject  to  these  men, 
may  arouse  themselves,  and  be  delivered  from  their  hands. 
Howbeit  the  Lord  desireth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
his  mercies  are  over  all  his  works,  and  he  is  found  of  them 
that  sought  him  not. 

Our  brother  Mar  Abraham,  a  bishop  of  the  Armenian 
nation,  who  is  sent  from  his  patriarch  at  Jerusalem,  (may 
God  rescue  his  holy  city  from  the  hands  of  the  Ishmaelites \) 
salutes  thee.  He  also  brings  a  letter,  which  was  sent  by 
his  hand  to  thee,  from  the  Syrian  patriarch  at  Jerusalem, 
and  has  not  found  means,  hitherto,  of  forwarding  it  to  thee 
at  Malabar,  and  has  therefore  requested  me  to  send  it  now 
to  thee.  All  the  Church  of  Christ  that  is  here  salute  thee. 
Salute  in  my  name  thy  brethren,  Mar  Dionysius  and  Mar 
Philoxcnusj  with  the  presbyters  and  deacons.  William 
Mill  and  Thomas  Robinson,  presbyters,  that  write  this 
epistle,  in  the  Lord  salute  you. 

The  blessing  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  be  with 
you  evermore  !  Amen. 

REGINALD,  Bishop. 

i.  e.  All  churches  of  the  Syro-chaldaic  ritual,  one-half  of  which  are 
under  the  Romish  yoke  imposed  by  the  Synod  of  Diamper. 

t  The  ex-inetropolitan,  who  resigned  the  chair  to  the  last  Mar  Diony. 
eius,  and  lives  in  voluntary  retirement  at  Codangalongery,  or  Anhur,  in 
the  north. 


Letter  from  Father  Abraham,  of  Jerusalem,  (an  envoy 
sent  with  visitatorial  powers,  by  the  Armenian  Patri- 
arch, to  the  Eastern  Churches  of  that  Nation  in  India,) 
to  Mar  Athanasius  ;  sent  with  Bishop  Hebcr's  Syriac 
letter  by  the  hands  of  Mr.  Doran. 

Calcutta,  January  6,  1826. 

Abraham,  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  from  the  holy  see 
of  Jerusalem  (appointed  bishop  and  nuncio  on  a  spiritual 
visitation  to  the  churches  of  the  Armenian  nation  in  the 
East-Indies,)  unto  our  beloved  brother  in  the  Lord,  the 
Right  Rev.  Mar  Athanasius,  Metropolitan  of  the  Syrian 
nation  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  and  to  all  the  communica- 
tors in  the  true  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  all  the  be- 
loved brethren  attached  to  the  Church,  scndeth  greeting; — 

Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace  from  God  our  Father,  the 
Most  High ;  and  from  our  blessed  Redeemer,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  the  Inspirer,  the  Holy  Ghost ! 

1  had  the  gratification  to  understand  from  our  most  be- 
loved brother  in  the  Lord,  the  Right  Rev.  Reginald, 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  India  (over  the  Christians 
of  the  established  Church  of  England,)  your  good  ministry, 
and  adherence  to  the  charge  committed  unto  you  by  your 
superior,  in  being  overseer  to  the  flock  of  God,  for  whose 
redemption's  sake  Jesus  died.  This  hath  afforded  me  the 
ereatest  pleasure,  and  I  always  render  my  thanks  to  God 
for  his  grace,  which  is  given  to  good  Christian  ministry  by 
Jesus  Christ.  Permit  me  to  remind  you,  ye  brethren  in 
the  Lord,  that,  according  to  Scripture,  the  last  days  I  see 
are  come,  when  many  false  prophets  and  false  Christs  were 
to  have  risen,  who  dissemble  in  sheep's  clothing,  but  in 


199 


reality  arc  wolves ;  such  as  some  of  the  followers  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  are,  who  try  to  find  access  unto 
the  flocks  (embodied  in  the  Church  of  Christ  by  the  unity 
of  faith  and  brotherly  love  through  the  triumph  of  the 
Gospel,)  and  are  bent  upon  scattering  and  driving  them 
deep  into  the  pit  of  satanical  transgressions,  by  superstition 
and  idolatry;  and,  for  the  sake  of  personal  ostentation 
among  men,  they  endeavour  to  bereave  and  deprive  the 
■true  believers  of  the  glory  of  God.  Wherefore,  be  ye  upon 
your  guard :  and  watch  thou,  as  the  skilful  shepherd  which 
thou  art  represented,  according  to  the  beaten  track  of  the 
heavenly  good  Shepherd  ;  feed  and  watch  with  vigilance 
over  the  flock  of  Christ,  even  at  the  cost  of  blood.  The 
more  especially,  I  say,  for  the  unity  of  faith  and  doctrine 
handed  down  from  your  ancestors,  in  union  with  the  ortho- 
dox Church  of  Armenia,  of  which  you  are  members,  and 
the  Head  of  us  all  is  Christ,  blessed  for  evermore. 

It  is  rejoicing  to  observe  that  we  are  in  expectation, 
according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  to  witness  the  end  of 
the  Heathens^  which  seems  to  be  near  at  hand  through  the 
propagation  of  the  Gospel.  It  is  gratifying  to  me  to  observe 
that  the  most  part  of  India  is  blossomed  with  the  light  and 
cultivation  of  the  diffusion  of  Scripture,  through  the  inde- 
fatigable labours  of  our  beloved  brother  in  God,  the  most 
pious  and  true  preacher  of  the  word  of  God,  our  amiable 
friend,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta.  Moreover,  his  im- 
partial intercourse  with  our  Church,  and  his  friendly  recep- 
tion of  us  in  the  English  Church,  has  gladdened  us  beyond 
the  power  of  the  auxiliary,  pen  and  ink,  to  convey  fully  my 
humble  sentiments  on  this  subject.  It  is  truly  rejoicing  to 
see  Christianity  thus  strengthened,  without  any  distinction 
to  sect?  and  nations;  brotherly  love  working  together*  one 


200 


Christian  with  another ;  wherefore  it  behoves  ine  to  hail, 
that  the  day  of  salvation  and  the  acceptable  time  is  now 
visible  in  our  age.  I  avail  myself  of  so  seasonable  a  time, 
to  remind  you,  our  beloved  brother  in  the  Lord,  of  the 
ministry  thou  hast  received  from  God,  through  the  grace  of 
the  precious  cross :  minister  thou  the  word  of  life  unto  the 
believers,  as  well  as  the  unbelievers  and  Heathens,  at  the 
station  where  your  ministry  extends,  that  thou  mayest  be 
enabled  to  rescue  the  lost  from  the  jaws  of  Antichrist.  It 
is  the  bitterness  of  times  that  needs  the  sweetness  of  the 
Holy  Scripture  to  be  diffused,  that  the  fruits  may  prove 
acceptable  to  the  Almighty. 

Be  it  known  to  our  worthy  brother  in  the  Lord,  that, 
during  the  usual  course  of  my  communication  with  the  holy 
see  of  Jerusalem,  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  a  letter  of 
blessing  and  loving-kindness  from  the  Right  Reverend  Fa- 
ther in  God,  the  Archbishop  of  the  Assyrian  Church,  at  the 
Holy  Land,  to  your  address,  which  would  have  afforded 
me  the  greatest  source  of  pleasure  to  hand  over  to  you 
personally,  and  to  partake,  myself,  of  the  pleasure  of  your 
brotherly  kindness,  and  to  witness  your  good  ministry  of 
the  Church  and  the  congregation  committed  to  your  charge, 
of  which  I  have  heard  so  happy  an  account  from  our  friend 
and  brother,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta ;  but  unfortun- 
ately it  did  not  prosper  so ;  for  the  ship,  on  board  of  which 
I  was  a  passenger,  did  not  touch  on  the  coast.  However, 
a  very  favourable  opportunity  occurred  since  our  brother, 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  during  his  conversation,  men- 
tioned to  me  that  he  was  on  the  point  of  forwarding  you 
an  epistle  in  the  Syriac  language.  I  availed  myself  of  that 
opportunity  to  deliver  to  him  the  letter  to  your  address 
(above  alluded  to.)  to  be  enclosed  in  it  at  the  same  time, 


201 


and  am  much  obliged  for  his  brotherly  love  that  he  has 
done  so,  and  trust  to  God  it  will  reach  you  in  safety. 

I  had  written  these  few  lines  in  the  Armenian  language; 
but  thinking  perhaps  none  of  my  nation  might  happen  to  be 
there,  to  convey  my  brotherly  love  and  greeting  to  you, 
and  none  of  my  handful  nation  here  understanding  the 
Syriac  language  to  translate  it,  I  have  therefore  got  it 
translated  into  English,  a  language  generally  understood 
all  over  India ;  and  I  hope  you  will  find  some  one  of  the 
station  to  read  it  to  you. 

I  have  prepared  myself  to  go  on  board  an  Egyptian 
vessel,  named  Alib  Rohonang,  towards  the  Holy  Land ; 
should  it  please  God  to  prosper  that  the  vessel  should  touch 
at  Allepee  (as  I  am  given  to  understand,)  I  promise  myself 
the  pleasure  to  send  information  thence  to  you  and  the 
brethren  of  the  Church,  and  to  fulfil  my  heart's  desire. 

Our  brother,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  joins  me  in 
greeting  you  and  the  brethren  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
Both  the  Armenian  and  English  Churches  of  Calcutta  salute 
vour  Church.  All  the  brethren  of  both  our  Churches  greet 
you,  and  greet  ye  one  another  with  a  holy  kiss.  May 
health  and  long  life  attend  your  ministry ;  and  the  grace 
and  peace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God, 
and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you  all. 
Amen. 

Pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  prosecute  my 
course  to  the  holy  city  of  Jerusalem. 

The  salutation  and  prayer  of  me.  Abraham,  with  mure 
own  hand. 


S 


202 

The  second  Letter  of  Bishop  Heber  to  Mar  Athanasius, 

March  22,  1826. 

To  the  honoured  among  bishops,  Mah  Athanasius,  Me- 
tropolitan of  the  churches  of  India  which  follow  the 
Syrian  confession,  my  dear  Brother  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 
Reginald,  by  divine  permission,  Bishop  of  Calcutta, 
wisheth  health,  peace,  and  increase  of  prosperity  in  this 
world,  and  the  world  to  come.  Amen. 

This  second  letter  I  write  unto  thee,  my  brother  beloved 
in  the  Lord,  to  let  thee  know  that  by  God's  mercy  I  have 
reached  the  country  of  Madras,  whither  thy  letter,  which 
arrived  in  Calcutta  after  my  departure  thence,  hath  been 
sent  after  me.  I  was  comforted  to  learn  thy  safe  arrival 
and  good  health  among  the  churches  of  thy  people ;  yet  I 
have  much  grief  and  heaviness  of  heart  to  hear  that  the 
enemy  hath  sown  trouble  between  thee  and  «ur  brethren 
Philoxenus  and  Dionysius,  which  in  time  past  had  guided 
and  governed  the  churches  of  Travancore,  in  their  desola- 
tion, when  no  tidings  came  from  Antioch  for  many  years, 
and  the  people  of  the  Lord  (but  for  them  whom  God  raised 
up  to  feed  his  flock)  had  been  scattered  on  the  mountains 
as  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  Let  this,  my  brother,  in- 
cline thine  heart  to  show  them  favour ;  and  may  the  good 
Spirit  of  God  move  them  to  render  thee  all  worthy  honour 
and  obedience,  both  for  thine  own  sake,  and  his  that  sent 
thee  ! 

Furthermore,  I  have  spoken  concerning  thy  business  to 
the  most  excellent  governor  of  the  English  nation  which  is 
in  the  city  of  Madras,  who  had  heard  divers  things  reported 


203 


against  thee ;  to  whom  I  said,  "  Athanasius  is  my  brother, 
and,  while  he  sojourned  in  Bombay,  approved  himself  in 
all  things  blameless,  and  of  a  truth  he  brought  letters  witn 
him  from  the  honoured  father  in  Christ,  the  Patriarch  of 
.Antioch:  perhaps  the  things  are  not  true  which  are  re- 
ported :  why  then  should  he  be  sent  away  from  the  land  1 
\nd  now,  behold,  I  go  southward,  even  to  Trichinopoly 
and  Quilon  ;  it  may  be  that  I  shall  reconcile  him  to  his 
brethren.    I  pray  thee  write  thus  much  to  the  queen  of 
Travancore  and  the  deputy  that  dwclleth  in  Quilon ;" — 
and  the  governor  has  written  as  I  desired.  Wherefore,  my 
honoured  brother,  when  I  come  into  your  borders,  (as,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  I  hope  in  forty  days  to  come  thither,) 
my  desire  is  to  be  allowed  to  make  peace  between  you  ; 
not  as  having  authority,  for  I  am  a  stranger  in  your  Church, 
neither  desire  I  to  rule  over  any  but  my  own  people ;  not 
as  having  wisdom,  for  I  would  gladly  learn  of  you  in  things 
pertaining  to  the  truth ;  but  as  your  brother  in  the  Lord, 
and  the  servant  of  the  churches  of  Christ ;  and  as  desiring, 
like  Mordecai,  to  speak  peace  to  all  the  children  of  God, 
and  to  say  unto  you  that  strive  together,  as  Moses  said  to 
the  Israelites,  "  Sirs,  ye  are  brethren ;  why  do  ye  wrong 
one  to  another  1ft   But  my  counsel  is,  that  all  the  malpans 
and  catanars  of  the  Church,  also  thou  thyself,  and  the 
brethren  Philoxenus  and  Dionysius,  should  come  together 
to  meet  me  in  one  place,  even  at  Cotyam,  and  testify  unto 
me  concerning. the  customs  of  the  Church,  and  all  things 
belonging  to  the  same ;  and,  that  all  men  may  speak  their 
mind  freely  and  without  fear,  I  will  bring  with  me  learned 
men,  who  speak  both  Arabic  and  the  language  of  the  Ma- 
layalim  (but  who  are  not  of  the  number  of  the  priests  sent 
heretofore  for  the  college  of  Cotyam,)  and  I  can  hear  both 


204 


what  is  said,  and  what  thou  desirest  to  speak  unto  me  in 
secret.  And  whereas  there  are  some  which  say  that  Phi- 
loxenus  is  no  bishop,  and  some  which  say  that  he  was  con- 
secrated by  laying  on  of  hands  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  even 
as  thou  wert,  this  thing  may  be  inquired  of  at  the  mouth  of 
many  witnesses,  and  the  will  of  the  Church  be  made  known 
whom  they  choose  to  obey.  And  in  the  meantime,  my 
brother,  for  as  much  as  it  hath  been  said  of  thee,  "  he  is  a 
violent  man,  and  seeketh  to  cbange  times  and  hours,"  let 
me  pray  thee  to  be  patient,  if  in  the  days  of  darkness  and 
trouble  any  thing  have  been  done  amiss,  awaiting  the  time 
that  thy  power  shall  be  strengthened,  and  the  Lord  shall 
cause  all  thy  ways  to  prosper.  But  I  speak  as  unto  the 
wise.  Thou  knowest  that  the  priests  of  the  high  places 
were  not  at  once  cut  off  from  Israel ;  how  mi.ch  less  those 
whom  a  bishop  hath  ordained,  though  in  thy  absence,  and 
without  leave  from  Antioch.  Likewise,  in  the  days  of  king 
David,  Zadok  and  Abiathar  were  both  high  priests  in  the 
tabernacle,  though  the  true  priest,  having  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  was  Abiathar,  son  of  Ahimelech,  only;  and  thus  it 
may  be  that  the  anointing  shall  be  on  thy  head,  and  the 
government  shall  be  on  thy  shoulders,  and  yet  the  place  of 
honour  next  to  thee  may  be  given  to  them  that  kept  the 
flock  before  thy  coming.  But  of  these  things  we  may  dis- 
course together  when  there  is  opportunity.  And,  further, 
if  any  man  hath  wronged  thee,  speak  to  me  thereof  with- 
out fear;  am  I  not  thy  brother?  Even  if  he  be  of  my 
own  people,  as  far  as  I  have  power,  he  shall  not  go  without 
correction.  Salute  the  Bishops  Dionysius  and  Philoxenus 
in  my  name.  I  call  them  Bishops,  for  as  much  as  they 
have  been  so  reported  unto  me  by  divers  sure  tokens,  and 
I  trust  they  may  be  found  bishops  indeed.  Salute  the  ram- 


205 


bar.  Isaac,  thy  fellow-traveller  and  mine,  whom  I  met  at 
Bombay.  Salute  the  malpans  and  catatiars.  The  priests, 
Thomas  Robinson  and  John  Doran  (concerning  whom  I 
wrote  unto  thee,)  salute  thee.  Verily,  John  was  sick  at 
Madras,  wherefore  my  letter  was  not  hastened  on.  Never- 
theless, he  is  now  restored,  by  God's  blessing,  and  is  with 
me  on  my  journey. 

Abuna  Mar  Simeon,  the  Armenian,  who  was  with  us  at 
Bombay,  and  who  has  been  now  again  with  me  at  Madras, 
salutes  you.  Grace  and  peace  be  with  you  all,  from  God 
and  our  Lord  Jesus  ! 

If  thou  hast  any  thing  to  write,  let  thy  letter  be  sent  unto 
me  in  the  city  of  Palamcottah. 

Written  in  the  land  of  Coromandel,  nigh  unto  the  city  of 
Alurabura. 

REGINALD,  Bishop. 


Letter  to  Mar  Philoxenus. 

To  the  honoured  among  bishops,  Philoxenus,  raised  up 
of  God  to  be  a  guide  and  shepherd  to  the  churches  of 
India,  which  hold  the  Syrian  confession,  Reginald,  by 
divine  permission,  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  wisheth  health, 
grace,  and  much  prosperity  from  God  and  our  Lord 
Jesus. 

I  have  heard  from  many  witnesses,  my  brother  beloved 
in  the  Lord,  of  the  works  which  thou  hast  wrought,  and 
thy  deep  tribulation,  and  thy  labour  of  love  which  hath  been 
shown  towards  the  Church  of  Christ  among  the  Malayalira, 
■.d  a  tj.nu:  when  no  tidings  came  from  the  Church  which  h 


20(5 


at  Antiocli,  and  there  were  many  dangers  and  much  sorrow- 
without  and  within,  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  from 
the  idolatrous  people  and  the  false  brethren.  Likewise, 
how  thou  hast  made  choice  of  a  wise  and  holy  man,  even 
the  brother  Dionysius,  to  judge  the  people  in  thy  room, 
and  to  teach  them  the  pure  and  certain  doctrine  of  the 
Lord  ;  and  that  thou  hast  sealed  him  to  the  work  by  the 
laying  on  of  hands,  to  the  intent  that  the  grace  which  was 
given  thee  might  not  perish,  but  that,  after  thy  decease,  a 
witness  of  the  truth  might  not  be  wanting  in  Israel,  until 
the  time  that  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard  shall  return  to 
reckon  with  his  servants. 

Which  thing  also  was  made  known  to  the  blessed  Father 
in  God,  Thomas  Middleton,  who,  before  my  weakness  came 
hither,  was  Bishop  of  Calcutta  and  of  the  churches  of  the 
English  in  India ;  who  beheld  also  your  order  and  the  grace 
of  God  which  was  among  you,  and  was  glad,  and  spake 
thereof  unto  all  the  chiefs  of  our  nation.  Insomuch  that  in 
the  land  of  Feringistan,  which  is  Chittim,  and  Ashkenaz, 
and  Gomer,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  was  made  known ;  nor 
there  only,  but  in  Britain  also,  which  is  our  own  land ; 
where  the  blessed  Apostle  Paul,  after  he  had  been  in  Spain, 
in  times  past  preached  the  Gospel,  even  as  the  Apostle 
Thomas  did  with  you,  whose  memory  is  at  this  day  blessed 
among  the  churches  of  India. 

For  which  cause  also  the  holy  Father  in  Christ,  the 
Patriarch  of  Antioch,  having  heard  of  your  love  and  the 
truth  and  patience  of  your  brethren,  sent  our  brother 
Athanasius  to  carry  his  letters  to  you,  and  to  testify  unto 
you  all  the  things  which  were  in  his  heart  as  a  faithful 
bishop  and  evangelist;  at  whose  coming,  when  I  heard  the 
same  in  Bombay,  my  heart  greatly  rejoiced,  hoping  that 


207 


by  communication  with  him,  yourself  and  your  flock  might 
be  the  more  established  in  faith,  and  that  love  might  in- 
crease more  exceedingly  with  all  knowledge.  Whence 
then  is  it,  my  brethren,  that  there  are  wars  and  envyings 
among  you?    God  is  a  God  of  peace,  not  of  division;  a 
God  of  order,  not  of  disorder;  and  by  all  these  things  the 
name  of  Christ  is  blasphemed  among  the  Gentiles*,  and  the 
souls  of  many  shall  be  turned  into  perilous  heresies ;  such 
as  are  taught  by  the  priests  of  the  bishop  of  Rome,  which 
are  in  Cranganore  and  Verapoli,  from  whom,  in  time  past, 
great  sorrow  hath  arisen  to  this  people.    Let  me  entreat 
you  then,  my  brethren,  on  Christ's  behalf,  that  you  be 
reconciled  one  to  another,  in  honour  preferring  one  another, 
and  each  desirous  to  take  the  lowest  room,  to  the  end  that 
ye  may  reap  an  exceeding  weight  of  glory  hereafter.  And 
for  as  much  as  the  people  are  divided,  and  this  man  is  of 
Philoxenus,  and  that  followeth  after  Athanasius ;  my  counsel 
is,  that  the  multitude  must  needs  come  together,  and  that 
the  priests  of  the  order  of  Aaron,  and  the  holy  Levites, 
which  are  the  deacons,  be  called  into  one  place,  to  declare 
openly,  according  to  the  knowledge  gi.ven  unto  them,  what 
hath  been  the  custom  of  your  fathers,  and  whom  they  will 
obey  as  their  bishop  and  faithful  shepherd.    Like  as  it  is 
written,  "  If  thou  hast  any  thing  against  thy  brother,  tell  it 
unto  the  Church;  and  he  that  will  not  hear  the  Church,  let 
him  be  unto  thee  as  a  Heathen  man  and  a  publican."  At 
which  time,  I  also,  if  it  seemeth  good  unto  your  discretion, 
will  be  present  with  you  in  Cotyam ;  not  as  a  ruler,  for  I 
am  a  stranger  among  you — nor  as  a  judge,,  for  who  am  I, 
that  I  should  judge  any  but  mine  own  people?  but  as  a 
brother  in  Christ,  and  a  faithful  witness  of  that  which  shall 
be  determined,  and  who  may  plead  the  cause  of  your  nation 


208 


with  the  queen  of  Travancore,  and  with  the  most  excellent 
governor  whom  the  king  of  England  hath  set  over  his  cities 
in  India.  And,  for  as  much  as  is  slanderously  reported  of 
thee,  that  thou  art  no  bishop  indeed,  let  this  thing  be  also 
inquired  into  at  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses.  And 
let  not  thy  heart  be  troubled  in  that  I  have  known  our 
brother  Athanasius  in  Bombay;  for  I  have  purposed,  by 
God's  grace,  to  know  no  man  after  the  flesh,  but  to  walk 
in  these  things  according  to  the  will  of  God  and  the  tradi- 
tion of  the  churches,  and  to  speak  peace,  if  it  may  be  so, 
to  both  of  you  (are  ye  not  both  brothers  ?)  and  to  acknow- 
ledge him,  if  difference  must  be  made,  whom  your  people 
shall  freely  choose  to  rule  over  them ;  and  within  forty  days 
I  trust  to  be  strengthened  to  come  unto  you. 

Brethren,  pray  for  me.  Salute  our  brother,  Bishop 
Dionysius,  in  my  name ;  salute  the  brethren  which  are  with 
you,  the  malpans,  catanars,  and  deacons,  with  all  others 
of  the  Church.  Salute  our  brother  Athanasius.  God  grant 
that  ye  may  be  at  unity  with  each  other !  The  brethren 
which  are  with  me,  even  Thomas  Robinson  (which  was  in 
time  past  known  unto  the  Bishop  Dionysius,)  and  John 
Doran,  salute  you. 

Grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  with  you,  and  with  the 
Israel  of  God !  Amen. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Thomas  Robinson  to 
Mar  Ignatius  Georgius,  Patriarch  of  Antioch,  1826. 

The  presbyter,  Thomas  Robinson,  rambanto  the  blessed 
Mar  Reginald,  bishop  of  the  English  churches  in  Indiaj 
sendeth  greeting  and  reverence* 


209 


I  am  not  worthy  to  write  unto  thy  eminence,  for  as  much 
as  thy  order  in  the  Church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  is  the  highest, 
and  mine  the  most  humble;  yet  since  God  hath  thought  me 
worthy  to  serve  his  honoured  and  blessed  servant,  Mai- 
Reginald,  the  Bishop  of  our  Church  in  India,  I  pray  thee 
to  receive  my  words  as  the  words  of  him  who  was  my  mas- 
ter and  my  brother.    The  rather  it  is  my  duty  to  write  to 
thee,  because  there  were  many  things  which  were  in  his 
heart  to  say  unto  thee,  and  he  was  meditating  a  letter  of 
peace  to  thee  at  the  very  time  when  the  Great  Master  of 
all,  the  Chief  Shepherd,  called  him  to  his  eternal  reward. 
With  thy  permission,  therefore,  I  will  relate  to  thy  wisdom 
what  things  he  had  already  done  towards  thy  churches  in 
India,  and  what  was  further  in  his  mind  to  do.    It  is  not 
unknown  to  thee,  Most  Reverend  Father,  from  the  informa- 
tion of  the  Reverend  Legate  and  Metropolitan  of  thy 
churches  in  Malabar,  Mar  Athanasius,  that  he  met  our 
blessed  Father,  Mar  Reginald,  at  Bombay,  soon  after  Pen- 
tecost, in  the  last  year  (182-3,)  and,  as  one  bishop  with  an- 
other, partook  of  the  holy  mysteries  with  him  at  the  altar 
of  the  English  church  dedicated  to  St.  Thomas  in  that  city. 
Mar  Reginald  showed  great  affection  to  Mar  Athanasius  in, 
return  for  his  love  to  him,  and  gave  him  letters  to  several 
persons  of  distinction  among  the  English  in  this  country, 
commending  him  to  them  as  Metropolitan  and  Supreme 
Bishop  of  the  Syrian  churches  in  India.    After  tiiat  time 
he  saw  his  face  no  more,  but  he  always  remembered  the 
brotherly  intercourse  that  was  between  them:  and  when  he 
wrote  an  account  of  his  diocese  to  the  Most  Reverend  and 
Excellent  Mar  Carolus,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and 
Metropolitan  of  all  the  churches  of  the  English  nation,  he 
made  mention  therein  of  Mar  Athanasius,  and  his  mission 


210 


from  your  eminence,  and  how,  by  his  means,  an  end  would 
be  put  to  the  irregularities  that  had  heretofore  prevailed  in 
the  church  of  the  Apostle  Thomas  at  Malabar.  Also,  when 
an  English  priest,  Johannes  Doran  by  name,  came  to  him 
at  Calcutta  five  months  after,  desiring  to  proceed  to  Malabar, 
our  blessed  father  gave  him  a  letter  to  Mar  Athanasius,  re- 
questing him  to  allow  him  permission  to  reside  among  his 
people,  and  to  receive  him  as  a  son  for  his  own  sake.  This 
letter  I  have  now  at  length  the  satisfaction  of  sending  to  the 
care  of  your  eminency,  and  I  will  now  relate  from  what 
cause,  and  in  what  manner,  it  was  most  unfortunately  de- 
tained so  long  from  the  hands  of  Mar  Athanasius;  for  our 
blessed  father  most  earnestly  desired  it  should  be  delivered 
without  delay,  since  it  would,  in  all  probability,  have  pre- 
vented his  departure  from  the  country,  and  healed  the  dis- 
orders and  schisms  that  now  so  wretchedly  divide  your 
Church  in  India. 

When  the  priest,  Johannes  Doran,  had  gone  from  Cal- 
cutta to  Madras,  on  his  way  to  the  country  of  Malabar,  he 
heard,  for  the  first  time,  that  there  were  dissentions  between 
the  Indian  bishops  and  the  metropolitan  from  Antioch, 
and,  being  a  stranger,  he  was  advised  by  some  persons 
that  he  should  avoid  taking  any  part  in  such  controversies, 
even  such  as  might  seem  just  to  him.  Therefore^  and  on 
account  of  hjs  health,  he  remained  at  Madras  for  two 
months,  till  the  end  of  the  month  of  February,  in  this  year, 
when  Mar  Reginald  arrived  there  on  his  visitation  to  the 
southern  part  of  his  diocese.  It  gave  him  great  grief  to 
find  that  Johannes  had  delayed  his  progress,  although  he 
had  given  him  letters  to  Mar  Athanasius,  as  the  head  of 
those  churches,  in  which  also  he  had  included  another 
letter  written  by  Abrahim  Abuna,  a  legate  from  the  Arme- 


211 


nian  Patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  to  Mar  Athanasius.    As  soon 
as  he  obtained  these  letters  again  from  the  hands  of  Johan- 
nes, on  the  4th  day  of  March,  he  sent  them  to  Travancore, 
to  be  delivered  into  the  metropolitan's  hands.   He  alo  sent 
answers  to  letters  he  had  received  from  that  land,  in  which 
he  exhorted  all  who  were  subject  to  his  authority  to  reve- 
rence the  ancient  canons  and  usages  of  the  Syrian  Church, 
and  to  know  him  as  the  rightful  head  and  metropolitan  of 
the  faithful  Indians  in  Malabar,  who  had  been  received  as 
such,  agreeable  to  your  eminency's  letters,  in  a  general 
convocation  of  the  Church,  summoned  at  Cotyam,  on  De- 
cember 29th,  1825,  by  the  Bishop  Mar  Philoxenus.  He 
also  expressly  and  earnestly  desired  all  these  his  children 
not  to  interpose  the  authority  of  the  Heathen  government 
in  Travancore,  as  defining  any  thing  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Church,  but  to  suffer  all  things  to  continue  as  they  were 
from  the  old  time,  even  since  the  Heathen  princes  gave 
the  Syrian  churches  of  Malabar  independent  privileges,  the 
people  choosing  their  ecclesiastical  governors  according  to 
the  rites  and  usages  which  they  held  from  the  day  of  the 
blessed  Apostle  St.  Thomas  to  this  time,  the  government 
allowing  their  elections,  and  receiving  those  they  elected, 
while  they  thus  rendered  to  Caesar  the  things  which  were 
Caesar's,  and  to  God  the  things  which  were  God's.  And' 
for  as  much  as  it  had  been  reported  to  Mar  Reginald,  that 
Mar  Athanasius  had  acted  violently  in  the  Church,  de- 
priving those  that  had  been  formerly  accounted  bishops, 
and  despising  the  authority  of  the  rulers  of  the  land,  our 
blessed  father  was  very  careful  to  inquire  into  this  matter, 
that  he  might  represent  it  truly  to  all  the  deputies  of  the 
governors  of  the  English  in  that  land.    In  the  meantime, 
the  letter  of  Mar  Athanasius  to  him,  written  one  month 


212 


before,  which  had  been  ignorantly  sent  to  Calcutta,  was 
given  to  him  at  Madias ;  and  to  this  letter  he  sent  an 
answer  in  the  Syriac  language,  on  the  22d  of  March,  which 
also  I  now  enclose  to  your  eminency,  wherein  he  assured 
him  of  his  unaltered  friendship,  exhorted  him  to  mildness 
and  forbearance  till  he  should  come,  and,  with  his  permis- 
sion and  good  will,  mediate  between  him  and  those  in  Tra- 
vancore  who  supported  the  Indian  bishops,  assuring  him 
also  that  he  would  not  leave  unpunished  those  who  behaved 
unjustly  or  unkindly  to  him  in  any  way.  And  Mar  Regi- 
nald acted  even  as  he  had  wrote,  and  he  obtained  a  promise 
from  the  excellent  governor  of  the  English  at  Madras,  that 
he  would  confirm  whatever  appointment  he  thought  good 
respecting  the  peace  of  the  Church  in  Malabar.  And  your 
excellency  will  see,  by  his  letters  to  both  sides,  that  he 
intended  that  Mar  Athanasius  should  be  acknowledged  as 
metropolitan  by  all  those  who  had  power ;  and  that  the 
Indian  bishops,  when  it  should  be  seen  they  were  truly 
such,  should  receive  honour  and  maintenance  as  his  suf- 
fragans. 

In  this  belief  and  intention  he  wrote  also  a  letter  of 
friendship  and  brotherly  love  to  Mar  Philoxenus,  as  one 
bishop  to  another,  exhorting  him  to  receive  Athanasius,  as 
sent  by  your  eminency,  to  rule  them.  I  send  a  copy  of 
that  letter  to  your  eminency.  I  beg  your  eminency's  wise 
and  careful  attention  to  this  account;  and  of  the  truth  of 
it  I  myself  am  witness ;  for  I  wrote  with  my  own  hand  the 
two  letters  to  Mar  Athanasius,  and  have  been  near  to  our 
blessed  father,  as  his  ramban  and  secretary  during  all  these 
transactions.  Your  wisdom  will  judge  from  this,  with  what 
grief  and  surprise  Mar  Reginald  heard  the  events  that  took 
place  at  the  same  time  at  Travancore.  These  events  there 


213 


•s  no  need  that  I  relate,  as  your  eminency  has  heard  them 
clearly  from  Mar  Athanasius  himself ;  but  the  thing  which 
gives  most  grief  to  the  hearts  of  all  who  love  the  memory, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  plans  of  our  late  blessed  father  in  Christ, 
is,  that  his  two  letters  to  Mar  Athanasius  were  not  received. 
The  first  letter,  which,  as  I  have  mentioned,  was  sent  on 
the  4th  of  March,  must  have  arrived  at  Travancore  either 
on  the  same  day  Mar  Athanasius  was  arrested  by  the  divan 
and  banished  the  country,  or  at  least  the  day  after ;  yet 
the  letter  was  not  sent  after  him  to  Cochin,  where  he 
remained  many  days.  Nor  was  it  told  to  Mar  Reginald 
that  his  letter  had  not  been  delivered,  till  many  days  after 
it  had  arrived  at  Travancore ;  and,  this  news  not  coming 
to  the  Bishop  till  after  Easter,  at  Tanjore,  no  remedy  was 
found  for  the  evil :  much  less  was  the  second  letter  deli- 
vered, which  was  written,  as  I  have  mentioned,  twenty 
days  later  than  the  other.  But  as  soon  as  Mar  Reginald 
heard,  as  he  did  in  the  Passion-Week,  that  the  metropolitan, 
had  been  arrested  by  order  of  the  Heathen  government,  he 
immediately  wrote  a  letter  to  the  British  deputy  in  Tra- 
vancore, Colonel  Newall,  who  was  then  living  at  some 
distance  in  the  mountains  of  the  North.  In  that  letter  he 
supplicated  him  to  stop  all  these  proceedings  against  Mar 
Athanasius ;  to  wait  for  his  coming  before  he  listened  to 
any  accusation  against  the  person  bearing  the  commission 
x»f  your  eminency,  and  recognised  in  that  character,  as  he 
had  no  doubt  he  soon  would  be  by  all  the  faithful  in  Mala- 
bar. He  reminded  him,  moreover,  how  infamous  it  would 
be  to  the  English  nation,  if  we  should  admit,  in  any  degree, 
the  accursed  practices  which  we  all  condemn  in  the  disciples 
of  the  corrupt  Church  of  Rome,  in  their  conduct  towards 
the  legates  from  Syria,  who  came  to  the  ancient  churches, 

T 


2U 


which  Divine  Providence  had  now  placed  under  our  civil 
government  and  protection.  Our  blessed  father,  Mar 
Reginald,  lived  not  long  after  the  writing  of  that  excellent 
letter.  It  was  his  mind  to  have  followed  it  up  by  a  letter 
to  your  eminency,  and  by  other  acts  calculated  to  ensure 
the  peace  of  your  Church  at  Malabar,  when  it  pleased  his 
heavenly  Father  to  call  him  to  himself.  The  letter  was, 
however,  received  by  Colonel  Newall,  who  immediately 
sent  orders  to  the  divan  of  Travancore  to  stay  all  farther 
proceedings  against  Mar  Athanasius,  and  to  authorize  his 
return  to  the  country.  That  letter,  arriving  after  the  death 
of  Mar  Reginald,  was  opened  and  read  by  me.  But,  alas  ! 
the  news  had  already  arrived  from  Travancore,  that  Mar 
Athanasius  had  already  sailed  from  Cochin,  and  conse- 
quently that  these  orders  of  the  resident  came  too  late.  It 
would  ill  become  me,  Most  Reverend  Father,  to  obtrude 
any  counsel  of  mine  upon  your  eminency,  in  an  affair  where 
the  peace  of  your  Church  is  so  nearly  concerned.  Suffer 
me,  however,  to  give  you  what  are  not  mine,  but  the  ideas 
of  my  honoured  Father  in  the  Lord,  whose  nearest  wish, 
after  the  prosperity  of  his  own  children,  and  the  extension 
of  the  Gospel  of  the  Lord  by  their  means,  was  to  preserve 
the  integrity  of  the  Church  subjected  to  your  eminency's 
rule  in  the  land  of  Malabar.  It  appeared,  then,  to  Mai- 
Reginald,  from  very  strict  and  accurate  inquiries  made  into 
the  truth  of  the  circumstances,  not  only  from  those  resident 
in  Cotyara,  but  from  others  also,  that  when  the  last  prelates 
(on  whom  be  the  peace  of  God  !)  came  from  Syria  to  Ma- 
labar, Mar  Gregorius,  of  Jerusalem,  Mar  Basiiius  Maphi- 
ran,  and  Mar  Johannes,  they  encountered  the  like  opposi  - 
tion from  the  ambition  of  tlic  Indian  bishop,  Mar  Thona, 
and  his  nephew,  that  Mar  Athanasius  has  to  encounter 


215 


from  the  ignorance  and  prejudice  of  those  opposed  to  bum 
Nevertheless,  as  disciples  of  Him  who  was  lowly  and  meek 
in  heart,  and  who,  by  his  own  mouth  and  that  of  his  holy 
apostles,  has  taught  us  not  to  render  evil  for  evil,  but  to 
overcome  evil  with  good,  they,  after  more  than  eighteen 
years'  quarreling,  procured  the  younger  Indian  bishop  to 
be  submissive  to  their  will,  and  (Mar  Basilius  being  dead) 
Mar  Gregorius  consecrated  him,  and  honoured  him  with 
the  title  of  Metropolitan,  by  the  name  of  Dionysius.  All 
this  is  not  unknown  to  your  eminency ;  but  besides  this,  it 
is  also  true  that  there  was  a  young  Indian  priest,  who, 
during  all  these  troubles  and  contentions,  remained  faithful 
to  the  just  cause  of  the  Syrian  prelates  from  Antiocli. 
Him,  therefore,  during  those  troubles,  Mar  Basilius  had 
consecrated  bishop,  by  the  name  of  Cyrillus.  And  it  is 
said  also,  though  with  what  truth  I  know  not  certainly,  that 
when  Mar  Gregorius  had  given  the  title  of  Metropolitan  to 
Dionysius,  and  when  Mar  Dionysius  afterwards  refused  to 
give  him  the  maintenance  he  agreed  to  give,  then  Mar 
Gregorius  gave  the  same  title  of  Metropolitan  to  the  afore- 
said Cyrillus.  However  this  may  be  as  to  his  dignity  of 
metropolitan,  or  whatever  right  this  may  have  conferred 
upon  him,  it  is  the  confession  of  all  in  Malabar,  of  every 
party,  that  he  was  truly  a  bishop  by  the  consecration  of 
Mar  Basilius.  That  Cyrillus,  as  is  sufficiently  attested, 
consecrated  another  priest  before  his  death,  A.  D.  1805, 
by  the  name  of  Philoxenus,  who  again,  in  1812,  conse- 
crated in  the  same  manner  him  who  now  lives,  and  is 
called  Mar  Philoxenus.  Now,  though  the  title  of  Metro- 
politan is  wrongly  assumed  by  that  prelate,  and  the  others 
whom  he  has  consecrated,  and  ignorantly  allowed  them  by 
?iie  Heathen  governors  of  the  land,  it  \yill  not  be  doubtful 


216 

to  your  eminency  that  they  are  real  bishops,  though  there 
were  not  the  number  of  prelates  present  at  the  consecra- 
tion which  the  holy  canons  ordinarily  require.  But  in  a 
barbarous  land,  where  bishops  are  very  few,  where  inter- 
course with  the  see  of  Antioch  was  interrupted  and  difficult, 
it  may  seem  perhaps  to  your  eminency,  as  it  did  to  Mar 
Reginald,  that  it  were  better  for  a  bishop  before  his  death 
to  provide  successors  for  himself,  provided  the  real  form  of 
ordination  be  duly  observed,  than  that  the  Church  should 
be  left  entirely  destitute  of  bishops.  More  especially  when, 
at  the  demise  of  the  true  metropolitan,  more  than  twelve 
years  ago,  there  was  no  provision  for  the  continuance  of 
lawful  pastors  among  the  people  of  Malabar,  unless  the 
other  successions  from  Mar  Basilius  were  admitted  as  true» 
which  continued  from  Cyrillus  to  those  who  are  now  in 
Malabar.  It  was  therefore  in  our  blessed  Father's  mind  to 
entreat  your  eminency,  and  also  his  Right  Reverend  Brother, 
Mar  Athanasius,  to  lay  aside  all  prejudices  from  the  reports 
of  ambitious  men  in  India,  who  often  decry  in  their  bre- 
thren those  things  which  they  only  desire  for  themselves, 
and  that  you  would  consult  in  these  matters  what  is  condu- 
cive to  the  peace,  security,  and  welfare  of  the  Church — 
not  indeed  giving  place,  even  for  an  hour,  to  those  pre- 
judiced or  wicked  brethren,  who  pretend  to  set  up  the 
right  of  the  Heathen  magistrates  to  name  Church  governors, 
against  that  of  the  see  of  Antioch ;  but  not  denying,  even 
to  the  gainsaying  ami  the  prejudiced,  that  character  which 
is  allowed  them  by  the  nation,  if  it  should  appear,  on  due 
examination  and  trial  by  the  faithful,  the  priests  and  doc- 
tors of  Malabar,  that  the  character  of  bishop  does  not  of 
right  belong  to  them.  By  these  mild  means,  and  by  in- 
viting a  fair  and  impartial  trial  of  all  doubtful  matters,  the 


217 


peace  and  order  of  the  Church  will  be  best  promoted.  Our 
brethren  and  fathers  of  the  English  Church  all  look  with 
the  greatest  interest  and  affection  on  the  state  of  the  Church 
of  the  Apostle  St.  Thomas,  in  Malabar;  all  desire  earnestly 
to  see  it  in  peace  and  prosperity,  and  its  connexion  with 
Syria  unimpaired ;  and  they  all  will  hear  with  sorrow  of 
the  violent  removal  of  your  legate  from  this  country.  I 
am  now  engaged,  as  is  my  bounden  duty,  in  giving  an 
account  of  these  transactions,  with  the  whole  of  the  wishes 
of  our  blessed  Father  concerning  them,  to  our  venerable 
father  and  Lord,  Mar  Carolus,  Primate  of  England. 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

Thomas  Robitvson, 
Priest  and  Ramban  of  Mar  Reginald  the  blessed. 


T  2 


SKETCH 

OF  THE 

CHURCHES  OF  ST.  THOMAS,  IN  MALABAR, 

FROM  THE  SYNOD  OF  DIAMPER,  1599,  ' 

ARRANGED  CHRONOLOGICALLY, 

WITH  NOTES, 

XXTRACTED  FROM 
f.  P^ULIN's  44  INDIA  ORIF.NTALIS  CHRISTIANA.." 


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Remarks. 

Indian  Superin- 
tendents of  the 
Christians  revolted 
from  Rome. 

w 

tu  . 
o  -a 
JS  o 

50  O 

S'S 
s  *^ 

Is 

1751.  Mar  Basi- 
lius,  Mar  (iregori- 
us,  Mar  Johannes. 

Italian  Vicars 
Apostolic  of  Mala- 
bar sent  from 
Rome. 

1774.  D.  Francis- 
cus  Salesias  a  Ma- 
tre  dolorosa  Carm. 
Disc,  opposed  by 
the  missionaries, 
he  went  away,  and 
died  onM.Cajmel, 
1787. 

Archbishops  of 
Cranganore. 

1753.  D.  Johan- 
nes Aloysius  de 
Vasconcelles,  S. 
Jes.  ob.  1756,  at 
Pattencera. 

1756.  D.  Salva- 
tor  h  Regihus  (D. 
Salvador  dos  Reis) 
Soc.  Jes.ob.  1777, 

at  PattenceMB. 

Archbishops  of 
Goa. 

D.  Antonius  Ta- 
reira    de  Neiva 

Brum. Ord. Mil.  S. 
Jacobi. 

D.  Franciscusab 
assumptione  (scec. 
nom.  Britto)  ord. 
Erem.  S.  Aug.  1 

A.D. 

1750 
1773 

U2 


230 


231 


NOTES  ON  THE  FOREGOING  SKETCH. 
(A.) 

The  Diocese  of  Angamale. 

In  the  act  of  separation,  the  Syrian  ritualists  number 
eighty-four  Catholic  parishes,  thirty-two  Schismatic — in  all, 
one  hundred  and  sixteen,  the  whole  diocese  of  Angamale. 
[D.  Angelus  Franciscus,  A.  D.  1702,  numbered  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  parishes  of  both  rituals.]  They  reckon 
one  hundred  thousand  Catholic  families — making  the  cal- 
culation so  high  in  order  to  escape  the  fine.'  There  were 
formerly  about  that  number  of  families  under  the  govern- 
ment of  the  petty  kings ;  but  when  Rama  Vermar  subjected 
all  the  provinces  of  Malabar  to  himself,  A.  D.  1761 ;  and 
Tippoo  Sultan,  A.  D.  1790,  and  the  following  years,  de- 
stroyed the  churches  of  the  North  and  many  Christian 
.families,  the  number  was  greatly  diminished. 

A.  D.  1663,  when  Cochin  was  taken  by  the  Dutch,  the 
Portuguese  and  all  Catholic  ministers  were  ejected.  The 
Jesuits  went  further  north  from  Cochin  and  Cranganore, 
and  built  a  mission-house  and  seminary  at  Ambalacatta,  in, 
the  Samorin's  country,  which  remained  till  the  year  1773. 
They  built  another  at  Pucotta,  and  another  at  Puttencera. 
More  than  two  hundred  were  annually  converted,  among 
whom  some  Bramins  and  Nairs.  After  the  schism  under 
Francis  Garzia,  the  bare-footed  Carmelites  sent  by  Pope 
Alexander  VII.  lived  many  years  in  the  villages,  but  A.  B. 
1673,  their  first  house  was  built  by  Father  Matth<eus  a  S. 
Josepho,  at  Cettiatti,  by  permission  of  Governor  Vtji 


232 


Rhcade,  Irrivari  Ramcn,  the  Hcatlien  prince  of  tiie  coun- 
try, giving  them  the  ground.  There  the  church  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  was  built,  which  Alexander  de  Campo 
(signing  himself  Alexander  Metropolita  Dekul  Hindoo, 
Alexander  the  Metropolitan  of  all  India)  exempted  from 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  ordinary.  That  form  of  signature 
was  used  by  the  Christians  of  the  Syrian  ritual,  and  the 
Nestorians  also  from  remote  times  ;  or  thus,  Tarao  Dekul 
Hindoo,  the  door  of  all  India.  The  seal  is  a  cross  in  red 
wax,  the  most  ancient  seal  of  the  see  of  Angamale. 

The  bare-footed  Carmelites  built  another  church  and 
college  at  Tattaraceri,  three  leagues  N.  E.  from  Cochin, 
in  the  year  of  Collam,  816,  A.  D.  1673,  by  grant  and 
privilege  of  Parumpadapil,  the  king  of  Cochin.  About 
four  hundred  persons  were  yearly  baptized  there  from 
Heathenism. 

The  old  seminary  of  Vcrapoli  was  built  16S2,  but  the 
Propaganda  Society  added  another  college  for  twelve  Latin 
youths  and  eighteen  native  clergy  of  the  Syrian  ritual. 
This  number  varied  according  to  the  remittances  of  the 
Society  of  Rome. 

(B.) 

The  Bishops  from  Antioch. 

The  foreign  Jacobite  bishops  sent  to  govern  the  Church 
in  Malabar,  all  professed  to  come  from  the  Patriarch  of 
Antioch,  which  they  called  the  Head  of  the  Christian 
World.  Joseph  of  Cranganore,  who  wrote  A.  D.  1502, 
says  that  St.  Peter,  when  he  went  from  Antioch  to  Rome, 
left  there  his  vicar,  and  he  it  is  who  governs  the  Church 
ir*  the  East-Indies,  and  is  called  Catholica.    He  says 


338 


that  tills  bishop  resided  in  Armenia,  and  that  he  ordained 
Indians,  and  then  adds,  "  Itidera  agunt  Christiani  omne3 
Indi,  et  regni  Cataii.    Eorum  Pontifex  Catholica  dicitur, 
fertque  tonsuram  instar  crucis ;  pra^ficit  Patriarchas  suos, 
alterum  in  India,  in  Cataia  alterum."    The  synod  of  Di- 
amper,  1599,  confirms  this  testimony;  and  Renaudot,  p. 
239,  says  that  the  Nestorians  and  Jacobites,  when  the 
orthodox  were  driven  from  Seleucia,  both  took  tin  title  of 
Catholic  Patriarchy  called  by  the  Arabs,  Yathlik,  by 
Marco  Paulo,  ZaioYik.    This  name  the  Jacobites,  from 
hatred  to  the  Nestorians,  changed  for  the  title  Mafrian; 
whence  many  Jacobite  bishops,  coming  to  Malabar,  called 
themselves  Mofrians  or  Mafrians.    Both  Nestorians  and 
Jacobites  maintained  the  supremacy  of  the  see  of  Antioch, 
an  opinion  which  still  prevails  among  the  schismatics  of 
Malabar.    "  Under  the  reign  of  Justinian,  they  began  to 
call  those  prelates  who  were  superior  to  metropolitans, 
and  had  several  under  them,  Catholiti:  there  were  at  first 
two,  one  of  Persia,  the  other  of 'Armenia  [from  this  last 
Joseph  of  Cranganore  deduces  the  succession  of  Malabar 
priests,]  who  remained  in  the  Jacobite  Church.   The  Nes- 
torians who  were  established  at  Seleucia  and  Ctesiphon, 
having  renounced  obedience  to  the  orthodox  whom  they 
had  succeeded,  and  having  despoiled  them  of  all  authority 
under  the  protection  of  the  last  king  of  Persia,  took  the 
title  of  Catholici,  and  have  preserved  it  ever  since,  adding 
to  it  that  of  Patriarch,  being  the  chiefs  of  all  theNestorian 
communion.    In  fine,  it  has  become  so  affected  by  the 
Nestorian  patriarchs,  that  the  Jacobites,  in  hatred  of  that 
sect,  having  in  their  Church  true  Catholici,  have  begun, 
in  the  last  five  hundred  years,  to  give  them  the  title  of 
Mafrian" 


234 


The  same  writer  says,  "  The  Jacobites  of  the  Church  of 
Alexander  had  a  true  ordination  and  succession,  from 
Dioscorus  down  to  Benjamin,  as  other  Jacobite  prelates  of 
the  Church  of  Antioch  had  a  legitimate  succession  from 
Severus,  the  lawful  bishop  of  that  see."  Therefore  some 
of  those  Jacobites  who  have  come  into  Malabar  have  true 
ordination.  On  the  extent  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Antioch, 
Nilus  Doxopatrius  apud  Allatium  1.  i.  c.  9.  16G.  xxruxe* 
wrmtrxv  Tr,i  Ag-iccv,  y.va  AvseroAajv,  ochtjjv  re  tjjv  Iv^iecv. 

India,  therefore,  was  anciently  subject  to  Antioch,  but 
the  Jacobite  patriarchs  of  that  see  sent  no  bishop  there, 
because  they  were  hindered  by  the  Nestorian  prelates  in 
Seleucia,  Edessa,  Nisibis,  Balsora,  of  Persia  ;  in  Merv  of 
Khorassan ;  in  Aria,  in  Cashar,  in  Malabar;  who,  main- 
taining their  old  right,  drove  the  others  out.  India  is 
reckoned  the  thirteenth,  or  last  of  the  Nestorian  sees,  and 
in  the  seventh  century  was  joined  to  the  see  of  China — 
61  Metropolitan  of  India  and  China.''''  But  in  the  third 
century  after  Mahomet,  when  the  Jacobites  increased  in 
numbers  and  power,  they  began  gradually  to  drive  the 
Nestorians  out,  and  establish  their  own  seat,  not  only  in 
Persia,  but  in  India;  whence  it  happened,  that,  in  spite  of 
the  Portuguese  and  the  Nestorians  also,  they  came  into 
Malabar,  and  opposed  the  errors  of  Dioscorus  to  the  heresy 
of  Nestorius.  Jacobus,  the  propagator  of  the  errors  of 
Dioscorus,  lived  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century,  and 
preached  the  MouoplnjsilR  doctrine.  The  Malabar  Nes- 
ioriuns  always  used  Syriac  in  their  liturgies. 


235 


(C.) 

To  the  year  1665,  when  Gregorius,  the  Jacobite  patriarch, 
came  from  Antioch,  the  schismatic  followers  of  Thomas  de 
Campo  followed  the  orthodox  faith  of  the  Synod  of  Diam- 
per,  differing  in  nothing  but  that  they  obeyed  Thomas, 
their  pseudo-bishop,  though  unconfirmed  by  the  pope.  But 
A.  D.  1665,  when  the  Jacobite  heresy  was  brought  in  and 
the  old  orthodox  faith  was  rejected,  these  schismatics  were 
called  Putten,  i.  e.  new  Christians ;  and  the  Catholics, 
Pageda,  i.  e.  old  Christians — names  which  they  keep  to 
this  day. 

(D.) 

Gregorius. — They  reverence  him  as  a  saint,  and  trace 
their  present  faith  to  him.  There  are  many  Malabar  songs 
about  him,  which  were  found  by  Paulinus  at  Parur,  where 
Gregory  was  buried.  He  enumerates  his  heretical  doctrines 
as  follows : — 

1st.  That  the  Pope  and  Nestorius  were  heretics. 

2d.  That  Antioch  is  the  head  and  mother  of  the  worid, 

3d.  That  Christ  had  one  nature,  the  divine. 

4th.  That  the  Holy  Spirit  proceeds  only  from  the 
Father. 

5th.  That  there  is  no  purgatory. 

6th.  That  leavened  bread  should  he  used  in  the  eucharist. 

7th.  That  the  officiating  priest  should  wear  the  pluvialis, 
but  not  the  casula. 

8th.  That  Lent  should  begin  len  days  later  than  it  i° 
commenced  by  Catholics. 


They  keep  the  anrnwisary  of  his  death  with  great 
■solemnity,  and  visit  his  tomb. 

Joseph  of  Cranganore  thus  describes  the  customs  and 
doctrines  of  the  Christians  of  St.  Thomas,  before  the  arrival 
of  the  Portuguese.  They  had  priests,  deacrns,  and  sub- 
deacons — sacerdotes,  levitas,  hypodiaccno* ;  they  did  not 
baptize  infants  before  the  fortieth  day  after  their  birth, 
except  in  case  of  danger ;  they  confessed ;  received  the 
eucharist;  sprinkled  themselves  with  holy  water;  prayed 
for  the  dead;  they  used  unleavened  bread,  and  wine  pressed 
from  ripe  grapes,  in  the  sacrament ;  admitted  of  no  div  orce ; 
widows  did  not  marry  within  the  year  of  their  widowhood  ; 
thejr  abstained  from  food  from  the  day  of  the  preparation 
to  Easter ;  they  kept  the  fast  of  Lent  and  Advent  rigidly  ; 
men  made  wills,  and  if  they  died  intestate,  those  nearest  to 
them  in  blood  were  their  next  heirs;  they  kept  the  feasts  of 
Easter,  Pentecost,  Ascension,  Epiphany,  the  Holy  Trinity, 
all  the  Apostles,  the  Assumption,  the  Nativity,  and  the 
Purification  of  the  Virgin;  they  had  monks  living  in  celi- 
bacy ;  they  communicated  three  times  a  year  ;  they  kept 
ihe  first  day  of  July  (which  is  the  third  with  us)  in  honour 
ef  the  translation  of  the  body  of  St.  Thomas ;  they  gave 
theit  daughters  a  marriage  portion,  and  did  not  admit  them 
to  inherit ;  they  had  no  extreme  unction.  This  is  Joseph's 
account.  Francis  de  Souza  ascribes  more  IN'estorian  errors 
to  them. 

(E.) 

Mar  Johannes  and  Mar  Basilius. 

lfj£5.  They  rejected  the.  council  of  Chalcedon  ;  denied 
'ii<5  procession  of  the  Spirit  from  the  Son;  denied  two 


237 


matures  in  Christ;  denied  purgatory;  did  not  celebrate 
mass  in  Lent,  nor  sutler  it  to  be  said  except  on  Sundays, 
which  are  not  fast  days ;  they  denied  the  beatific  vision  to 
be  immediate  after  death  ;  taught  to  pray  standing,  not 
kneeling ;  allowed  priests  to  marry — whence  many  Mala- 
bar priests  took  wives,  contrary  to  former  custom ;  ab- 
stained from  things  strangled,  &c.  Mar  Johannes  removed 
graven,  images  and  crosses  from  the  churches,  but  allowed 
veneration  to  pictures. 

(F.) 

Thomas  de  Campo  V.,  being  a  Jacobite,  opposed  Ga- 
"briel  the  Nestorian,  subscribed  the  supplicatory  memorial 
from  Rapolin  to  the  pope  by  the  schismatics,  A.  D.  1704, 
(vide  Raulin  and  Assem.  Bibl.  Orient.  IV.  p.  300.)  He 
lived  partly  at  Pattona  Parur,  partly  at  Rapolin,  partly 
at  Cotteta  and  Neronetta.  All  his  intrigues  were  either 
to  be  appointed  bishop  by  the  pope,  or  by  the  patriarch 
(Ignatius,)  that  so  he  might  be  able  to  expel  the  foreigners^ 
whether  Catholic  or  Jacobite. 

(G.) 

Thomas  de  Campo  VI.,  A.  D.  1720,  wrote  to  Ignatius, 
the  Patriarch  of  Antioch,  requesting  him  to  send  a  Jacobite 
metropolitan  or  bishop,  who  might  oppose  the  Francs  in 
Malabar,  and  consecrate  him.  The  letter  was  sent  to 
Amsterdam,  and  the  Propaganda  Society  hearing  of  it, 
determined  to  send  some  Maronite  monks  to  Malabar,  to 
oppose  the  new  prelate  on  his  arrival.  This  letter  of 
Thomas  is  given  in  Syriac,  from  the  archives  of  the  Propa^ 

X 


238 


ganda  Society,  by  Assernan,  T.  IV.  p.  464 — 467.  His 
baptismal  name  was  Ausepu,  or  Joseph ;  his  Episcopal 
name,  Mar  Dionysius.  Paulinus  visited  him,  December 
22d,  1785,  at  Neranatta,  together  with  Alexander  of  Cal* 
lurcatta,  to  attempt  his  conversion.  He  found  him  in  the 
midst  of  calanars,  with  a  long  white  beard ;  a  silver  crook, 
bent  back  at  the  top  in  the  Greek  fashion,  in  his  hand ; 
dressed  in  a  pontificial  robe ;  wearing  on  his  head  a  round 
mitre,  in  the  manner  of  the  Eastern  bishops,  embroidered 
with  a  cross,  which  was  covered  by  a  white  veil  flowing 
from  his  head  upon  his  shoulders.  He  found  him  (he  says) 
cunning  and  intractable,  deferring  his  conversion,  and 
anxious  that  his  nephew  should  succeed  him.  "  I  knew," 
says  Paulin,  "  the  beast  by  his  horns,  and  leaving  him, 
hastened  back  to  Callurcutta." 

(H.) 

Mar  Basilius. 

II  avoit  sur  la  tete  une  espece  de  capuchon  noir  de  toile, 
dont  le  sommet  etoit  sem6  de  croix,  et  une  toque  blanche 
pardessus.    Anquetil.  C.  c.  p.  163. 

The  liturgy  which  he  brought  into  Malabar  was  that  of 
St.  James,  written  at  Mardin,  the  residence  of  the  Patri- 
arch of  Antioch. 

Mar  Gregorius, 
Called,  by  Anquetil,  Georgius. 

His  profession  of  faith  is  thus  given  by  Anquetil,  p.  157:— 
Nos,  Syrus  Jocobita  orthodoxus  Christianus  jure  laudatus. 
rredimus  et  confitemur  secundum  fidem  trium  SS.  concilio- 


239 


rum — Nic.  Constant,  et  Ephes. — (contra  Ncstorium,)  Chris- 
tum Dcum  nostrum  Deum  perfectum,  et  filium  hominis 
perfectum  esse,  sicut  nos,  excepto  peccato,  in  unitate  admi- 
rabili  et  mirifica,  sine  separatione  et  sine  mixtione,  unam 
personam  et  unam  naturam  i|jcarnatum  veri  Dei  incarnati. 
Hsec  scripsi  manu  mea  debili  ego  Chorepiscopus  Georgius 
Syrus  Jacobita  ex  urbe  Haleb  A.  D.  1758.  1st  Jan.  O.  S. 
12th  Jan.  N.  S. 

Paulinus  says  he  was  informed  by  Van  Tongcrn,  the 
Dutch  Company's  interpreter  at  Cochin,  a  respectable  man 
and  a  Catholic,  that  the  Dutch  paid  for  the  passage  of  these 
three  bishops  (Basilius,  Gregorius,  and  Johannes)  12,000 
rupees  (6000  crowns,)  and  that  the  schismatics,  refusing  to 
pay  the  money,  after  a  long  suit,  were  compelled  by  the 
king  of  Travancore,  A.  D.  1775,  to  pay  it,  and  thus  pro- 
cured the  consecration  of  Thomas,  or  Joseph.  By  this 
means,  he  (with  the  name  of  Mar  Dionysius)  taking  the 
government  of  the  Church,  and  a  stipend  being  assigned  to 
the  surviving  foreigner  Johannes,  the  former  feuds  that  had 
lasted  so  many  years  were  allayed.  There  is  an  Arabic 
letter  preserved  in  the  records  of  the  mission  at  Verapoli, 
written  by  the  deacon  Marhel  and  the  priest  Elias,  A.  D. 
1756,  July  11th,  from  Aleppo  to  the  priest  Shokerullah  in 
Malabar,  the  companion  of  these  three  bishops,  in  which 
they  salute  Bishop  Gregorius,  and  acknowledge  him  as  a 
true  bishop,  and  mention  him  as  intimate  with  another 
Bishop  Georgius  at  Aleppo. — See  also  Anquetil  (lib.  Cit. 
p.  162  sqq.)  who  saw  and  talked  with  those  bishops,  and 
learned  much  of  them  from  Van  Vcchten,  the  secretary  of 
Cochin.  There  is  no  doubt  therefore  of  the  validity  of 
Mar  Dionysius's  consecration,  if  the  proper  form  was  used. 

Mar  Basilius,  one  day  before  his  death,  consecrated  an- 


240 


other  native,  called  Cattumungnaden,  by  the  name  of  Mar 
Cyrillus.  There  are  many  doubtful  stories  told  of  him ;  for 
he  was  driven  into  exile  at  Anhitr,  by  Dionysius. 

Paulinus  makes  the  following  reflection  on  the  series  of 
schismatic  bishops :  "  Ex  iis  palam  fit, 

1.  "  Veram  ac  sinceram  horum  schismaticorum  episco- 
porum  conversionem  rarissimam  esse ;  cum  iis  omnino  caute 
ac  prudenter  procedendum,  nec  non  nisi  seria  rerum  peri-- 
clitatione  et  pendere  fidendum  esse. 

2.  "  Verecundie  et  pudoi  i  locum  relinqui  Catholicis,  dum 
vident  tanto  zelo  et  ausu  Antistites  schismaticos  et  hsereti- 
cos  errorum  suorum  monstra  propogare,  quantum  vix  habent 
Ajitistites  Cathoiici  la  vera  B,eligiane  dilatanda." 


Cochin. 

A.  D.  1557.  The  church  of  the  Holy  Cross  at  Cochin, 
at  the  request  of  Sebastian,  king  of  Portugal,  was  made  a 
cathedral  by  Paul  IV.  Before  that  time,  the  church  was 
governed  by  one  rector  and  six  prebendaries. 

There  was  also  in  the  city  a  convent  of  the  order  of 
preachers,  another  of  Franciscans,  and  a  college  of  Jesuits, 
public  schools,  a  house  for  strangers,  and  several  churches, 
which  were  all  destroyed  by  the  Dutch,  1663,  except  the 
church  of  St.  Francis,  belonging  to  the  Franciscans,  in  the 
middle  of  the  town,  which  they  preserved  for  their  own 
use.  They  made  a  public  godown  of  the  cathedral.  The 
Bishop  of  Cochin  was  empowered  to  take  charge  of  the 
see  of  Goa,  in  case  of  vacancy. 

All  those  places  and  churches  which  rim  towards  the 
south  in  the  peninsula  of  Cochin,  from  Angicubnal  and 


241 

Bendurti,  and  the  whole  tract  from  the  rivers  to  the  sea 
(i.  e.  all  the  back-water,)  one  league  inland,  are  dependent 
on  the  Bishop  of  Cochin.  The  diocese  therefore  extends 
from  the  town  of  Cochin  along  the  whole  shore  to  Cape 
Comorin,  and  from  thence  stretching  eastward  to  the  fishing 
coast,  reaches  to  the  city  of  Negapatam,  on  the  Coromandel 
coast.  On  the  Malabar  coast  they  reckon  forty-two  churches, 
formerly  in  the  hands  of  the  Jesuits,  then  of  the  Francis- 
cans, and  afterwards  the  native  priests  of  Goa.  From 
1542,  Francis  Xavier  laboured  along  the  whole  of  this 
tract,  and  founded  most  of  the  churches  from  Quilon  to  the 
Cape.  The  more  famous  churches,  from  Cochin  to  the 
Cape,  are — St.  Andrew,  founded  in  1581,  (where  an  infi- 
nite number  of  Heathens  and  Christians  go  annually  to  the 
feast  of  St.  Sebastian,  on  the  20th  January,)  Quilon,  An- 
jengo,  Valiatorra,  Tiruvancor,  Cotteta  Coleci,  Cariapat- 
nam,  Vadakencollum  ;  and  on  the  fishing  coast,  the  church 
of  Manapur  and  Tutucuri  (1566),  founded  by  Georgius 
Themud,  of  the  order  of  preachers,  Bishop  of  Cochin;  the 
church  of  Vaypin,  Mattincera,  Pallurti,  St.  Luis,  Castella, 
Angicaimal,  Cettiati,  Manachord,  St.  Andrew,  and  others, 
in  the  groves  and  land  subject  to  the  Dutch  East-India 
Company,  are  under  the  vicar  apostolic ;  and  the  Portu- 
guese Bishop  of  Cochin  is  obliged  to  keep  at  a  distance 
from  these  places,  and,  while  he  is  in  his  diocese,  resides 
at  Quilon,  Anjengo,  or  some  other  place  on  the  coast  of 
Travancore.  In  the  jurisdiction  of  the  vicar  apostolic,  the 
head  of  which  is  the  church  of  St.  Joseph,  at  Verapoli, 
three  leagues  from  Cochin,  exclusive  of  the  Christians  of 
St.  Thomas  (who  follow  the  Syriac  ritual,)  there  are  of  the 
Latin  ritual  about  60,000  Christians,  converted  within 
about  one  century,  and  subject  to  the  Dutch, 
X2 


242 


St.  Thomas,  the  A])ostle  of  India. 

The  constant  tradition  among  all  sects  of  Christians  is, 
that  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle  came  and  preached  at  the 
town  of  Maliapour,  on  the  coast  of  Coromandel,  and,  after 
great  success  in  his  labours,  suffered  martyrdom  at  a  hill 
called  Calamina  ;  that,  after  his  death,  his  disciples,  being 
driven  thence  by  persecution,  went  across  the  Peninsula  to 
the  opposite  coast  of  Malabar,  where  they  found  refuge  in 
the  hills  of  Travancore.  The  Arabs  have  this  tradition, 
as  also  the  Heathens  of  Travancore,  with  little  variation. 
— Renaudot:  Anc.  Rel.  des  Indes ;  G.  Spilberg.  Ind. 
Orient,  part  vii.  page  94 ;  Robertson,  vol.  I. 

Tillemont,  La  Croze,  <fcc,  maintain  that  it  was  not  the 
apostle,  but  Thomas,  the  disciple  of  Manes,  A.  D.  277,  that 
first  preached  Christianity  in  India.  But  that  idea  seems 
to  be  false,  for  two  reasons  :  first,  because  the  constant  tra- 
dition is  for  the  apostle ;  secondly,  because  Epiphanius,  in 
his  history  of  Manes  and  his  disciples,  says  that  Thomas 
fled,  not  to  India,  but  to  Judaia,  where  Manes  was  taken 
by  the  king  of  Persia.  Epiphan.  T.  ii.  p.  629.  We  are 
also  told  by  Epiphanius,  that  Manes  found  at  Cashar 
bishops,  presbyters,  and  deacons,  with  a  large  body  of 
orthodox  Christians,  who  banished  him  for  his  heresy. 
This  establishment  implies  the  introduction  of  Christianity 
a.t  a  much  earlier  date.  We  know  from  Eusebius,  that 
Pantaenus,  who  flourished  A.  D.  180,  found  the  Gospel  of 
St.  Matthew  in  Malabar.  In  the  Council  of  Nice  we  find 
Johannes,  Bishop  of  India,  Magna,  and  Persia ;  and  the 
testimony  of  Cosmas  Indicopleustes  is  express : — "  In  Ta- 
brobana  insula  ad  interiorem  Indiam,  ubi  Indicum  pelage 


•J43 


extat,  Ecclesia  Christianorum  habctur,  ubi  clerici,  ct  fidetes 
reperiuntur;  an  ulterius  etiam,  ignore  Siniliter  in  Male 
ut  vocant  (unde  Malaba)  ube  gignitur  piper.  In  Callianct 
vcro  (sic  nuncupant)  Episcopus  est,  in  Perside  ordinari 
solitus." 

Jerome,  Gregory,  and  Nicephorus  mention  the  apostle's 
labours  in  India  as  the  commonly  received  opinion  of  the 
Church  in  their  time.  The  two  Mahometan  travellers  in 
the  ninth  century,  found  a  place  on  the  coast  called  Beitou- 
ma,  or  Beit-  Torna,  the  sepulchre  of  Thomas.  Amru,  a 
Syrian  writer  in  Asseman  (Diss,  de  Syr.  Nest.  p.  34,)  tells 
us  that  "  the  sepulchre  of  the  apostle  is  found  in  the  island 
Meilan,  in  India,  to  the  right  of  the  altar  in  the  monastery 
dedicated  to  his  honour."  By  Meilan  is  probably  meant 
the  town  of  Maliapour.  That  there  was  a  Nestorian  mo- 
nastery as  well  in  Maliapour,  or  St.  Thome,  as  in  Edapuli 
and  Angamale,  we  are  informed  by  Thomas  Jaballaha, 
Jacobus,  and  Denha,  A.  D.  1504.  Vide  Chron.  Edess.  ap. 
Assem.  torn.  i.  p.  399. 

The  Roman  Martyrology  says,  the  apostle  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom in  India.  Cujus  (St.  Thomae)  reliquiae  primo  ad 
urbem  Edessam,  deif  de  Othonam  translate  sunt.  Now  tlie 
ancient  Nestorians,  and  at  this  day  the  Catholic  Christians, 
celebrate  the  removal  of  his  remains  on  the  first  day  of 
July  every  year,  and  call  it  Dohorana.  Joseph.  Crang. 
cap.  134. — Calamina,  where  the  Martyrology*  places  his 
burial,  is  not  now  found  in  India.    F.  Paulin  conjectures 

*  Sophronins  also  assigns  the  same  place.  "  Thomas  Apostolus, 
Parthis  et  Persis  et  Carmanis  et  Hircanis  et  Bactiis  et  Magis  (i.  e. 
Brahmanibus,  qu.  maha,  i.  e.  Magnis)  pradicavit  evangelium  DoininK 
Dormivit  in  Civitate  Calainin  i,  qua?  est  India>. 


244 


that  the  word  might  have  been  corrupted  from  Calmehnina 
(e  Saxo,)  and  so  mean  a  rock  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Maliapour,  where  St.  Thomas  was  martyred — called  now 
Monte  Pequeno  by  the  Portuguese,  the  Little  Hill,  the 
Mount.  It  is  still  a  place  of  pilgrimage  to  Syrians,  Arabs, 
and  Armenians  (both  Catholic  and  Protestant,)  and  even 
the  Heathens  pray  to  him,  and  keep  a  lamp  burning  there. 
Their  fable  is,  that  the  apostle  talked  with  their  god  Vishnu. 
A  tradition  so  constant  among  people  so  distant  from  each 
other,  and  so  opposite  in  religious  faith,  is  not  lightly  to  be 
rejected. 

The  king  under  whom  St.  Thomas  suffered,  seems  to 
have  been  the  famous  Salivahan,  who  died  A.  D.  78.  He 
reigned  in  Pattan,  and  is  the  same  with  the  Saraganus  of 
Arrian. 

On  the  doors  of  the  Basilica  of  St.  Paul,  in  the  Ostian 
Road,  carved  at  Constantinople  A.  D.  1070,  there  are 
figures  of  St.  Thomas  and  Pantaenus.  The  latter  holds 
the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  and  the  martyrdom  of  St. 
Thomas  is  thus  commemorated  : — 

O  ATieX  0HMA2  AOXI  TnO  INAIA  TEAHTTE. 
S.  Thomas  lancet  in  India  moritur. 

The  church  of  Maliapour,  from  the  death  of  the  apostle, 
languished  till  A.  D.  1606,  when  Paul  V.  erected  it  into  a 
see.  The  patronage  had  been  given  to  the  kings  of  Por- 
tugal by  Paul  HI.,  A.  D.  1534.  The  whole  coast  of  Coro- 
mandel,  from  Negapatam  northwards,  the  kingdom  of 
Orissa,  Bengal,  and  Peru,  were  subjected  to  the  Bishop  of 
St.  Thome,  A.  D.  1606. 

The  cleft  in  the  rock  which  is  now  shown  as  the  tomb  cf 


215 


the  apostle,  was  opened  by  D.  Joseplius  Pinhehus,  Bishop 
of  St.  Thome,  A.  D.  1729,  and  the  childish  fables  and  pre- 
tended miracles  that  have  been  industriously  propagated 
to  increase  the  reputation  of  their  monastery,  have  thrown 
a  shade  of  unmerited  suspicion  on  the  venerable  tradition  of 
antiquity  and  the  testimony  of  many  ancient  writers. 


Letter  from  Bishop  Heber  to  the  Rev.  D.  Schreyvogel. 

Chillumbrum,  March  21,  1826-. 

Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

I  wrote  yesterday  to  Dr.  C'jemmerer,  to  rxpress  my 
regret  at  not  being  able  to  visit  you  at  Tranquebar.  Since 
that  time,  having  again  looked  over  your  letter  to  me,  as 
well  as  that  which  you  sent  on  the  subject  of  distinctions 
of  caste,  and  of  other  customs  yet  remaining  among  the 
native  Christians,  which  you  reprobate  as  heathenish  and 
improper,  I  have  been  led  to  wish  for  some  explanation  of 
those  customs  and  of  your  reasons  for  objecting  to  them, 
of  which  the  latter,  as  expressed  in  those  papers  (to  deal 
freely  with  you,)  do  not  seem  to  me  satisfactory.  With 
regard  to  the  distinctions  of  caste,  as  yet  maintained  by 
professing  Christians,  it  appears  that  they  are  manifested 
(a)  in  desiring  separate  scats  at  church  ;  (b)  in  going  up  at 
different  times  to  receive  the  holy  communion;  (c)  in  in- 
sisting on  their  children  having  different  sides  of  the  school , 
(d)  in  refusing  to  eat,  drink,  or  associate  with  those  of  a 
different  caste. 

Now  it  is  dcsireable  to  know  whether  these  are  insisted 
on  as  religious,  or  as  merely  civil  distinctions ;  whether  as 


246 


arising  from  a  greater  supposed  purity  and  blessedness  ia 
the  soodras  over  the  pariars ;  or  whether  they  are  not 
badges  of  nobility  and  ancient  pedigree,  such  as  those 
which  in  Spain,  even  among  the  poorest  classes,  divide 
the  old  Spaniards  and  Castilians  from  persons  of  mixed 
blood — and  in  the  United  States  of  North- America  entirely 
exclude  Negroes  and  Mulattos,  however  free  and  wealthy, 
from  familiar  intercourse  with  the  whites ;  also  whether  the 
Christians  of  high  caste  adhere  to  these  distinctions,  as 
supposing  that  there  is  any  real  value  in  them,  or  merely 
out  of  fear  to  lose  the  society  and  respect  of  their  neigh- 
bours and  relations.  If  these  questions  are  answered  in 
the  affirmative  (as  they  have  been  very  solemnly  by  the 
Rev.  Christian  David,  in  answer  to  my  repeated  inquiries,) 
I  confess  that  I  do  not  think  the  evil  so  great  as  to  be 
insufferable,  or  to  justify  the  ministers  of  Christ  in  repelling 
from  the  communion  those  who  adhere  to  them,  though  it 
may  be  that  the  spirit  of  pride  (from  which  they  flow) 
should  by  gentle  means  be  corrected  as  far  as  possible. 
We  all  know  that,  in  Europe,  persons  of  noble  birth  or 
great  fortune  claim  and  possess  precedence  in  our  churches, 
and  I  have  already  observed  that  the  whites  take  the  same 
priority  to  themselves  in  America.  But  there  is  no  reason 
for  this  but  custom,  inasmuch  as  a  gentleman  and  a  beggar 
are  as  much  equals  in  God's  sight  as  a  soodra  and  a  pariar. 
The  reason  why  a  Christian  gentleman  conforms  to  these 
rules  is,  because,  by  acting  differently,  he  would  lose  his 
influence  with  those  of  his  own  degree  in  society;  and  a 
soodra  may  say  the  same  thing,  and  does  say  it.  It  seems 
ihen  to  me,  that  this  distinction  of  castes  in  church  may 
stBl  be  allowed  to  continue,  provided  due  care  is  taken  to 
teach  our  congregations  that  they  are  all  naturally  equal. 


247 


With  regard  to  their  private  meals  and  social  intercourse, 
»t  seems  to  me  that  we  have  still  less  business  to  interfere ; 
"  for  meat  and  drink  destroy  not  him  for  whom  Christ 
died."  In  the  schools,  indeed,  and  among  the  children, 
taking  places,  &c,  must  be  arranged,  as  it  appears  to  me, 
without  regard  to  caste ;  but  even  here  caution  should  be 
observed,  to  disgust  no  man  needlessly. 

I  perceive  you  object  very  strongly  to  certain  ceremonies 
usual  in  marriages,  such  as  going  in  procession  through  the 
streets  with  music,  erecting  a  pendal,  &c.  On  what  grounds 
of  reason  or  Scripture  do  you  object  to  these?  Are  they 
idolatrous  ?  are  they  necessarily  or  usually  attended  with 
uncleanness  or  indecency  ?  In  what  respect  do  they  essen- 
tially differ  from  those  ancient  ceremonies  which  are  known 
on  the  like  occasions  to  have  been  practised  among  the 
Jews,  to  which  both  the  prophets  and  our  Saviour  make 
repeated  allusions  without  ever  blaming  them,  and  which, 
judging  from  analogy,  must  have  been  practised  at  that 
very  marriage  of  Cana  which  our  Lord  sanctioned  by  his 
presence  ? 

Again  it  appears  that  one  of  your  principal  causes  of 
complaint  against  the  Danish  government  has  been,  that 
they  would  not  sanction  the  sentence  of  excommunication 
pronounced  against  a  person  who  had  dancing  girls  in  his 
house,  and  another  who  had  acted  some  theatrical  part.. 
Now  heire,  too,  I  much  want  information.  Were  the  dances 
indecent  in  themselves  1  Were  the  performers  persons  of 
notoriously  indecent  character,  prostitutes,  or  servants  of 
some  Heathen  temple ;  or  did  you  object  to  the  dancing 
itself  as  unchristian,  and  a  fit  ground  for  excommunication  ? 
In  like  manner,  was  the  acting  on  a  public  stage,  and  for 
money  1  was  the  drama  indecent  or  immoral  ?  or  was  it  (as 


248 


from  the  little  which  I  yet  know  of  Indian  customs  I  am  Jed 
to  suspect)  one  of  those  masked  fooleries  in  which  the 
common  people  of  Germany  and  England  often  indulge  at 
Christmas  and  harvest-home  ;  and  which,  though  they  may 
sometimes  be  abused,  are  not  regarded  as  in  themselves 
criminal,  or  worthy  of  ecclesiastical  censure  1 

My  reasons  for  asking  information  on  these  subjects  will 
be  plain,  when  I  mention  that  the  question  of  caste,  and  of 
such  practices  as  these,  has  been  referred  to  my  considera- 
tion both  by  the  Christians  and  missionaries  of  Vepery,  and 
that,  in  order  to  gain  more  light  on  the  subject,  a  Select 
Committee  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge has  been  at  my  desire  appointed.  In  the  meantime 
I  am  most  anxious  to  learn  from  every  quarter,  especially 
from  a  Christian  minister  of  your  experience  and  high 
character,  the  real  truth  .of  the  case.  God  forbid  that  we 
should  encourage  or  suffer  any  of  our  converts  to  go  on  in 
practices  either  antichristian  or  immoral !  but  (I  will  speak 
plainly  with  you  as  one  brother  in  Christ  should  with  an- 
other) I  have  also  some  fears  that  recent  missionaries  have 
been  more  scrupulous  in  these  matters  than  need  requires, 
and  than  was  thought  fit  by  Swartz  and  his  companions. 
God  forbid  that  we  should  wink  at  sin  !  But  God  forbid 
also  that  we  should  make  the  narrow  gate  of  life  narrower 
than  Christ  has  made  it,  cr  deal  less  favourably  with  the 
prejudices  of  this  people  than  St.  Paul  and  the  primitive 
Church  dealt  with  the  almost  similar  prejudices  of  the 
Jewish  converts  ! 

It  has  occurred  to  me,  that  if  either  your  or  Dr.  Cami- 
merer.(to  whom  pray  offer  my  best  wishes  and  respet's) 
could  find  time  on  Easter-Monday  to  come  over  to  meet 
me  at  Tanjore,  my  doubts  might  be  the  better  cleared  one 


249 


way  or  the  other,  and  other  matters  might  be  discussed  in 
a  few  words,  of  much  advantage  to  the  cause  of  missions  in 
this  country. 

I  remain,  Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

Your  faithful  and  obedient  servant, 

REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 


(  Private.) 

My  dear  Sir, 

Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  communicate,  in  any  way 
which  is  most  proper  and  usual,  the  purport  of  the  enclosed 
letter  to  the  Rajah  Serboojeel  It  seems  no  more  than 
right  to  make  him  some  acknowledgment  for  his  civilities. 
And,  though  I  have  very  little  hope  of  his  now  sending  his 
son  to  Calcutta,  the  advantage  to  the  young  man  would  be 
so  great,  that  it  is  well  to  leave  him  an  opening  (in  case  of 
his  changing  his  mind)  to  renew  the  negociation.  I  conclude 
that  they  are  aware,  or  you  will  perhaps  have  the  goodness 
to  explain  to  them,  that  I  neither  expect,  nor  could  under 
any  circumstances  receive,  any  remuneration  for  the  part 
which  I  might  take  in  instructing  him ;  and  that  he  would 
have  his  option,  either  to  occupy  a  part  of  my  house  rent- 
free,  or  to  hire  one  in  the  neighbourhood. 

To  yourself  and  Mrs.  Fyfe,  for  the  kindness  and  hospi- 
tality which  you  have  shown  to  us  all,  both  in  sickness  and 
in  health — as  well  as  the  impression  which  your  agreeable 
society  has  left  on  my  mind — what  can  1  say  more  than  I 
have  already  said — or  to  express  all  that  I  feel  1  God  bless 
you  both,  and  make  you  long  happy  in  each  other  and  in 
your  children !    I  am  sorry  to  say  that  we  have  another 

Y 


250 

invalid  in  our  party,  poor  Robinson  being  very  far  from 
Well  this  morning. 

Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  ever  most  truly  yours, 

REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 

Trichinopoly,  April  1st. 


Trichinopoly ,  April  1st,  1826. 

•  My  dear  Sir, 

May  I  request  you  to  convey  to  his  highness  the  Maha- 
Rajah  of  Tanjore,  the  expression  of  my  best  thanks  for 
the  kind  and  gratifying  attentions  with  which  his  highness 
has  honoured  myself  and  my  party  during  our  visit  to 
Tanjore,  and  the  assurance  that  I  shall,  through  life,  con- 
tinue to  recollect  with  pleasure  my  introduction  to  the  ac- 
quaintance of  a  prince  so  much  distinguished  by  his  virtues 
and  talents,  as  well  as  by  his  courteous  and  condescending 
manners,  and  the  variety  of  his  accomplishments. 

I  feel  much  flattered  by  the  manner  in  which  his  high- 
ness has  been  pleased  to  speak  of  my  offer  to  superintend 
the  education  of  the  Prince  Sewajee,  in  the  event  of  his 
being  willing  to  give  me  the  pleasure  of  his  company  in  my 
present  tour,  and  afterwards  to  accompany  me  to  Calcutta. 
I  regret  extremely,  though  I  fully  feel  and  appreciate  the* 
causes  which  render  this  arrangement  at  present  impos- 
sible. But  I  beg  you  at  the  same  time  to  state  to  his 
highness,  that,  should  the  improved  health  of  the  prince,  or 
a  better*  season  of  the  year  make  her  highness  the  ranee 
less  reluctant  to  part  with  him  for  a  time,  it  would  be  my 
study  to  make  his  stay  in  Calcutta  as  agreeable  and  useful 
ta  him  as  possible,  both  by  directing  his  studies  and  intro- 


251 


ducing  him  to  the  most  distinguished  society  of  the  place  » 
and  that  in  health,  and  every  other  respect,  I  would  take 
the  same  care  of  him  as  I  should,  under  similar  circum- 
stances, of  a  son  of  my  own  sovereign. 

I  beg  you  at  the  same  time  to  offer  my  best  compliments 
and  good  wishes  to  his  highness  the  Prince  Sewajee. 
Believe  me,  dear  Sir, 

Your  obliged  and  faithful  humble  servant, 
REGINALD  CALCUTTA. 
Captain  J.  Fyfe,  &c.  &c.  &c. 
Residency,  Tanjore. 


To  David  Hill,  Esq.,  Chief  Secretary  to  Govtrnment, 
Fort  St.  George. 

Sir, 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  for  the  information 
of  the  honourable  the  governor  in  council,  that  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  Calcutta  left  this  for  Trichinopoly  last  night. 

The  Lord  Bishop  visited  the  rajah  on  the  28th  ultimo, 
and  was  received  in  full  durbar  with  all  the  marks  of  respect 
suitable  to  his  elevated  rank  and  sacred  character.  On  the 
29th,  the  rajah  returned  the  visit;  and  on  the  30th,  his 
lordship  paid  a  private  visit  to  the  rajah,  of  several  hours. 

The  rajah's  character  seems  to  have  excited  a  good  deal 
of  interest  in  the  Lord  Bishop.  His  lordship  very  kindly 
offered,  with  the  assistance  of  his  chaplain,  to  undertake 
the  instruction  of  the  rajah's  son  in  various  branches  of 
English  literature  and  science ;  but  though  the  rajah  and 
his  son  are  very  highly  gratified  and  flattered  by  such  a 


252 

striking  proof  of  his  lordship's  kindness  and  condescension, 
and  the  rajah  himself  more  particularly  is  fully  sensible  of 
the  inestimable  advantages  which  his  son  would  derive 
from  the  society  and  instruction  of  a  person  of  the  Lord 
Bishop's  shining  abilities  and  extensive  acquirements,  there 
are  unfortunately  insuperable  objections  to  the  arrange- 
ment. The  young  man's  mother  will  on  no  account  con- 
sent to  it.  "  He  is  (she  says)  her  darling  and  only  son, 
and  nothing  but  death  shall  ever  separate  them.  When 
she  went  on  the  pilgrimage  to  Benares,  and  left  him  at 
Tanjore,  she  was  near  losing  him,  and  no  persuasion  on 
earth  shall  ever  again  induce  her  to  part  from  him."  I 
foresaw  this  decision.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  an 
affectionate  mother  would  sacrifice  her  own  feelings  for 
advantages  which  she  cannot  be  supposed  capable  of  fully 
appreciating. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
JOHN  FYFE,  Resident, 

Tanjore,  April  1st,  1826. 


To  David  Hill,  Esq.,  Chief  Secretary  to  Government, 
Fort  St.  George. 

Sir, 

I  have  already  informed  the  government  of  the  gratifi- 
cation which  the  rajah  derived  from  the  kind  and  disinter- 
ested proposal  of  the  late  Bishop  Heber  to  superintend  the 
education  of  his  son.  His  highness  was  very  sensibly 
affected  by  this  and  other  instances  of  attention  and  consi- 


253 


deration  which  he  received  from  his  lordship,  and,  as  a 
testimony  of  respect  for  his  memory,  has  subscribed  1000 
rupees  to  his  monument. 

This  spontaneous  tribute  of  admiration  and  esteem  is 
another  gratifying  proof  that  the  extraordinary  fascination 
of  the  Bishop's  character  extended  over  every  person  who 
came  within  the  sphere  of  its  influence. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
JOHN  FYFE,  Resident, 

Tanjore,  April  2d,  1826. 

The  rajah  intended  to  have  erected  a  magnificent  monu- 
ment to  the  Bishop,  entirely  at  his  own  expense.  This  was 
before  he  had  heard  that  the  public  had  resolved  to  pay 
such  a  well-earned  tribute  to  his  memory. 


Trichinopoly,  3d  April,  1826. 

G.  A.  O. 

It  is  with  unfeigned  regret  that  the  officer  commanding 
at  Trichinopoly  announces  the  death,  this  morning,  of  the 
Right  Reverend  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta. 

His  lordship's  remains  will  be  interred  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, at  a  quarter  before  six  o'clock,  at  St.  John's  Church; 
and  the  troops,  under  the  command  of  the  officer  com- 
manding at  Trichinopoly,  will  be  under  arms  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  previous  thereto,  and  will  form  a  street  from  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Bird  to  St.  John's  Churchj  in  the  follow- 
ing order : — 

Y2 


254 


The  fifth  regiment  light  cavalry,  mounted,  will  have  its 
right  resting  at  the  verandah  of  Mr.  Bird's  house,  the  files 
from  thence  will  be  extended  five  paces  along  the  road 
leading  to  St.  John's  Church — the  right  of  the  twentieth 
regiment  N.  I.  will  be  about  twenty  paces  from  the  left  of 
the  cavalry,  and  will  extend  as  above  directed — the  twenty- 
seventh  regiment  N.  I.  will  extend  in  like  manner,  with  its 
right  resting  on  the  left  of  the  twentieth — and  H.  M.  forty- 
eighth  regiment  will  thence  extend  so  that  its  left  will  rest 
on  the  gate  of  the  church. 

A  carrying  party  of  one  serjeant  and  twenty-four  rank 
and  file,  under  charge  of  a  subaltern,  to  be  furnished  by 
H.  M.  forty-eighth  regiment. 

As  the  corpse  passes  down  the  line  of  troops,  each  file, 
as  it  nears  it,  will  pay  the  compliment  of  presented  arms. 

Nine  pieces  of  cannon  to  be  drawn  up  outside  the  church 
wall  facing  the  parade  ground,  from  which  will  be  fired 
three  salvos  after  the  funeral  service  has  been  read. 

His  majesty's  forty-eighth  regiment  to  furnish  its  band 
and  drummers. 

All  officers  at  the  station,  not  on  parade  with  the  troops, 
are  ordered  to  attend  and  follow  the  body  in  procession. 

Forty-three  minute  guns,  corresponding  with  the  age  of 
the  late  Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  to  be  fired  from  the 
Madura  face  of  the  fort,  at  the  time  the  body  leaves  Mr. 
Bird's  house. 

The  flag  to  be  hoisted  half-mast  high,  and  continue  so 
displayed  during  the  day. 

CHARLES  EVANS,  Fort  Adjutant* 


255 


brigade-major's  office. 
HEAD  QUARTERS  SOUTHERN  WVISION. 

Trichinopoly,  3d  April,  1826. 

©.  O.  by  Major-General  Hall. 

In  consequence  of  the  death  of  the  Right  Reverend  the 
Lord  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  the  officer  commanding  the  divi- 
sion directs,  that  all  the  officers  in  the  southern  division 
will  wear  mourning  for  a  month  from  the  present  date. 

The  officer  commanding  the  division  also  expects  that 
all  officers  off  duty  in  the  garrison  of  Trichinopoly  will 
accompany  his  lordship's  remains  to  the  place  of  interment. 
By  order  of  Major- General  Hall. 

M.  M'NEILL,  M.  B.  S.  D, 


Proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Madras, 
held  at  the  Government  Gardens,  on  Wednesday,  12f£ 
April,  1826 — the  Honourable  Sir  Thomas  Munro, 
Bart.,  K.  C.  B.,  in  the  chair. 

Sir  Thomas  Munro,  on  taking  the  chair,  addressed  the 
meeting  as  follows  : — 

Gentlemen, 

We  must  all  deeply  lament  the  melancholy  cause  of  our 
being  now  assembled  here.  My  own  acquaintance  with 
our  late  excellent  Bishop  was  unfortunately  but  of  short 
duration ;  yet,  in  that  short  time,  I  saw  in  him  so  much  to 
admire,  that  I  can  hardly  trust  myself  to  speak  of  him  as  I 


^56 


Could  wish.  There  was  a  charm  in  his  conversation  by 
which  in  private  society  he  found  his  way  to  all  hearts,  as 
readily  as  he  did  to  those  of  his  congregation  by  his  elo- 
quence in  the  pulpit.  There  was  about  him  such  candour 
and  simplicity  of  manners,  such  benevolence,  such  un- 
wearied earnestness  in  the  discharge  of  his  sacred  functions, 
and  such  mildness  in  his  zeal,  as  would,  in  any  other  indi- 
vidual, have  ensured  our  esteem.  But  when  these  qualities 
are,  as  they  were  in  him,  united  to  taste,  to  genius,  to  high 
station,  and  to  still  higher  intellectual  attainments,  they 
form  a  character,  such  as  his  was,  eminently  calculated  to 
excite  our  love  and  veneration.  These  sentiments  towards 
him  were  every  where  felt:  wherever  he  passed,  in  the 
wide  range  of  his  visitation,  he  left  behind  him  the  same 
impression.  He  left  all  who  approached  him  convinced 
that  they  never  had  before  seen  so  rarely  gifted  a  person ; 
and  that  they  could  never  hope  to  see  such  a  one  again. 
The  loss  of  such  a  man,  so  suddenly  cut  off  in  the  midst  of 
his  useful  career,  is  a  public  calamity,  and  ought  to  be 
followed  by  an  expression  of  the  public  feeling. 

Sir  Ralph  Palmer,  in  moving  the  first  resolution, 
spoke  as  follows : — 

Gentlemen,  The  honourable  chairman  having  stated  the 
object  for  which  we  are  assembled,  and  requested  such  of 
us  as  are  prepared  with  any  proposition  which  they  think 
will  accord  with  tbe  sincere  view  of  the  meeting,  now  to 
state  it,  I  shall,  with  his  permission,  beg  leave  to  offer  one 
resolution  to  your  notice,  which  I  am  persuaded  will  meet 
with  your  unanimous  concurrence. 

Before,  however,  I  do  so,  I  hope  it  may  not  be  considered 
■an  intrusion  on  my  part,  or  as  improperly  retarding  the 


257 


expression  of  your  sentiments,  if,  in  addition  to  what  has 
been  already  so  feelingly  addressed  to  you  from  the  chair, 
I  too  should  express  one  word  of  sorrow  upon  the  present 
melancholy  occasion — sorrow,  not  for  the  sake  of  him 
whose  loss  we  are  lamenting ;  for  to  him,  whose  life  was 
full  of  good  works,  whose  heart  was  devoted  to  h^s  God, 
whose  faith  was  pure,  and  whose  hope  was  sincere  ;  to 
him,  as  has  been  said  in  another  and  a  more  sacred  place, 
"  To  die  was  gain."  But  sorrow  for  those  who,  from  the 
experience  of  the  past,  feel  what  they  are  deprived  of  for 
the  future — those  who  were  united  to  him  in  blood,  or 
bound  to  him  in  friendship — those  who,  like  myself,  can 
trace  back  the  remembrance  of  him  to  the  period  when,  in 
that  university  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  brightest  orna- 
ments, the  brilliancy  of  his  early  genius  drew  forth  from  a 
crowded  assemblage  of  learning  and  wisdom  reiterated 
plaudits,  and  afforded  a  sure  presage  of  those  splendid 
talents  which,  if  they  had  not  quite  attained,  were  now  fast 
ripening  into  perfection — those,  in  short,  who,  whether  in 
Europe  or  in  Asia,  had  the  happiness  and  the  honour  too 
of  being  admitted  into  his  social  circle,  and  derived  no  less 
advantage  from  the  information  which  the  universality  of 
his  acquirements  enabled  him  to  afford,  than  pleasure  and 
delight  from  the  easy,  the  affable,  the  gay,  the  unassuming 
manner  with  which  that  information  was  always  so  freely 
imparted ;  for  his  was  not  the  religion  of  the  ascetick — his 
was  not  the  learning  of  the  recluse. 

For  friends  who  thus  knew  and  loved  him,  surely  the 
tear  of  sorrow  may  be  shed.  But  is  it  for  such  as  these 
only?  Is  it  upon  private  friendship  alone  that  the  appalling 
stroke  of  death  has  now  inflicted  a  grievous  wound  1  Alas  ! 
it  is  not. 


258 

"  Hush'd  be  the  voice  of  private  wo ; 
"  The  public  bleeds."  

It  bleeds  indeed !  When  we  think  of  what  that  good 
man  has  done — what  he  was  doing — and  what,  under  the 
blessing  of  Providence,  it  might  have^been  hoped  he  would 
have  been  enabled  to  achieve — when  we  remember  the 
many  charitable  and  religious  institutions  which,  fostered 
by  his  care,  aided  by  his  munificence,  and  guided  by  his 
counsel,  were  progressively  answering  more  and  more  the 
ends  for  which  they  were  established — when  we  saw  him 
labouring  in  the  great  work  which  he  had  undertaken, 
with  a  zeal  not  less  conspicuous  for  the  ardour  with  which 
it  was  prosecuted,  than  for  the  suavity  and  conciliation 
with  which  it  was  tempered — when  we  hear  of  him,  to  his 
last  admiring  congregation,  and  almost  with  his  very  latest 
breath,  exhorting,  "  brotherly  love  to  all,  without  distinction 
of  rank,  caste,  or  colour" — when  we,  who  so  recently  were 
eye-witnesses  of  his  conduct,  and  hearers  of  his  words,  and 
can  therefore  well  appreciate  the  effect  which  the  labours 
and  doctrines  of  such  a  man  were  likely  to  produce — when 
we  see,  and  hear,  and  think  of  these  things,  may  we  not 
say  that  this  man  was,  above  all  others,  the  best  calculated 
to  succeed-  in  the  great  undertaking  about  which  he  was 
employed  1  May  we  not  say,  that  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  such  a  man,  the  rays  of  Christianity  at  length 
bade  fair  to  spread  their  cheering  and  glorious  light  far  and 
wide  throughout  the  continent  and  islands  of  India?  Must 
we  not  feel  that,  grievous  and  sad  as  is  the  privation  which 
this  sudden  and  lamented  event  will  occasion  to  all  who 
knew  and  loved  him  dearly,  yet  it  is  but  as  a  feather  in 
the  scale — it  is  but  as  a  bubble  in  the  air — it  is  but  as  a 
drop  in  the  waters,  when  compared  with  the  incalculable 


259 


joss  which  by  it  the  cause  of  humanily  and  of  religion  has 
sustained. 

Without  trespassing  then  further,  Sir,  orfyour  patience, 
upon  this  melancholy  occasion,  I  shall  beg  leave  to  propose 
as  a  resolution  to  be  adopted  by  this  meeting — 

That,  as  the  character  of  the  late  Bishop  Heber  was  re- 
garded with  universal  love  and  veneration,  and  as  his  life 
was  of  inestimable  value,  from  the  works  of  piety  and  bene- 
volence which  were  in  a  great  measure  dependent  upon  it, 
and  which  were  prosecuted  with  ardour  and  with  the  hap- 
piest effect  to  the  very  hour  of  its  termination,  so  his  death 
has  excited  the  deepest  feeling  of  grief  in  this  settlement, 
and  is  esteemed  by  the  present  meeting  a  calamity  to  the 
cause  of  religion  and  humanity. 

The  venerable  Archdeacon  Vaughan  seconded  the  reso* 
lution. 

On  the  motisn  of  Lieutenant-General  Sir  George 
"Walker,  G.  C.  B.,  it  was 

Resolved,  That,  in  order  to  perpetuate  the  sentiments 
entertained  by  this  settlement  towards  the  late  bejoved  and 
revered  Bishop,  a  monument  be  erected  to  his  memory  in 
St.  George's  Church,  and  that  the  Reverend  Thomas 
Robinson,  the  domestic  chaplain  and  esteemed  friend  of  the 
Bishop,  be  requested  to  prepare  the  inscription. 

Upon  the  second  resolution  being  proposed  Sir  Robert 
Comyn  said, 

Sir,  I  beg  to  second  this  resolution.  The  extraordinary 
merits  of  the  late  Bishop's  public  and  private  life  have  been 
so  lately  witnessed  by  all  who  hear  me,  and  have  just 
now  been  so  feelingly  and  eloquently  dwelt  upon  by  the 


Honourable  the  Chairman,  and  my  friend  Sir  Ralph  Palmer, 
that  I  should  deem  any  further  allusion  to  them  an  inex- 
cusable detention  of  this  meeting.  I  will  only  say,  that  I 
am  most  sincerely  convinced  that  there  never  was  a  human 
being  who,  in  so  short  a  space  of  time,  inspired  so  universal 
a  sentiment  of  attachment  and  veneration. 

It  cannot  but  be,  therefore,  a  melancholy  satisfaction  to 
us  all,  to  raise  a  memorial  which  may  perpetuate  our  feelings 
towards  the  late  Bishop,  and  our  intense  grief  at  our  la- 
mentable and  irreparable  loss;  his  fame  indeed  requires  no 
such  perpetuation  ;  the  noble  devotion  of  his  exalted  genius 
to  the  high  callings  of  his  office,  has  raised  for  him  an  im- 
perishable monument:  but  it  is  perhaps  a  duty  we  owe  to 
ourselves,  to  convince  those  who  may  hereafter  succeed  to 
these  shores,  that  we  did  not  close  our  eyes  to  that  light 
which  has  shone  with  such  brilliancy  among  us. 

I  need  only  add,  Sir,  that,  in  selecting  a  hand  which  shall 
inscribe  the  marble  with  our  sentiments,  it  is  impossible  to 
fix  upon  one  more  fit  than  Mr.  Robinson's.  His  high  at- 
tainments and  great  regard  and  friendship  for  the  Bishop 
ensure  the  language  of  truth  and  feeling  in  every  way  wor- 
thy the  occasion. 

The  Honourable  Mr.  Graeme  begged  leave  to  propose, 
That  a  subscription  be  opened  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
the  last  resolution  (that  proposed  by  Sir  G.  Walker)  into 
effect,  and  that  any  surplus  fund  be  appropriated  in  the 
manner  best  calculated  to  do  honour  to  Bishop  Heber's 
memory. 

The  respect,  Mr.  Graeme  said,  in  which  our  benevolent 
Bishop  was  held,  and  the  grief  at  his  premature  loss,  were 
so  universal,  that  it  seemed  desireable  that  no  individual 


261 


should  be  without  the  opportunity  of  testifying  them  accord- 
ing to  his  means,  and  he  would  therefore  beg  to  suggest  that 
no  minimum  should  be  fixed  for  the  subscription. 

Sir  George  Ricketts,  in  seconding  this  resolution,  ex- 
pressed himself  in  the  following  terms: — 

"  I  beg  leave,  Sir,  to  second  the  resolution:  and  I  have 
to  request  all  those  who  now  hear  me  to  understand,  and  to 
make  it  generally  understood,  that  it  is  intended  that  the 
amount  of  the  subscription  shall  not  be  regulated  by  the 
probable  expense  of  the  monument  which  is  to  be  raised, 
but  that  it  shall  be  unlimited  in  its  amount;  and  the  reso- 
lution, therefore,  provides  that  the  surplus  fund  which  may 
remain  after  discharging  the  expense  of  the  monument, 
shall  be  appropriated  in  the  manner  best  calculated  to  do 
honour  to  the  late  Bishop's  memory.  It  would  be  prema- 
ture now  to  suggest  any  particular  mode  of  appropriating 
that  surplus,  but  it  will  readily  occur  to  the  mind  of  every 
one,  and  will,  I  think,  be  as  readily  assented  to,  that  to 
appropriate  it  to  the  furtherance  of  that  great  cause  for 
which  only  the  late  Bishop  lived,  and  in  which  he  died, 
would,  if  he  is  permitted  to  be  sensible  of  what  is  passing 
here  on  earth,  and  to  derive  any  gratification  from  it, 
gratify  him  more  than  the  most  splendid  monument  that 
art  and  wealth  could  erect  to  his  memory.  It  is  also 
intended  that  the  subscription  shall  not  only  be  unlimited 
in  its  amount,  but  shall  also  be  as  universal  as  possible 
throughout  this  Presidency,  and  that  every  person,  however 
low  and  poor  he  may  be,  and  of  whatever  colour  he  may 
be,  who  may  wish  to  join  in  rendering  honour  to  the  late 
Bishop's  memory,  shall  be  admitted  to  subscribe  the  smallest 
s.um.    Those  who  knew  the  late  Bishop  will,  I  am  sure, 

Z 


262 


be  satislied  that,  to  one  of  his  mind  and  feelings,  the  most 
grateful  tribute  which  could  be  offered  to  him,  would  be 
that  which,  however  small  it  might  be,  would  be  rendered 
by  the  lowly  and  the  poor,  by  those  to  whom  the  light  of 
Christianity  is  new,  and  who  would  thus  testify  their  sense 
of  the  blessings  of  it,  and  their  veneration  for  that  Church 
of  which  he  was  lately  the  head  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
The  highest  honour  that  can  be  rendered  to  him  will  be, 
not  so  much  in  the  costliness  and  magnificence  of  the 
monument  which  may  be  raised  to  him,  as  in  the  numbers 
of  those  who  shall  contribute  to  raise  it.  It  should  be  like 
those  sepulchral  cairns  which  were  heaped  in  former  times 
upon  the  graves  of  the  illustrious  dead,  by  every  individual 
of  the  country  laying  a  stone  upon  them ;  and  every  person 
within  this  Presidency,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  Euro- 
pean and  Indian,  who  venerates  that  religion  of  which  the 
late  excellent  Bishop  was  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments 
and  best  supporters,  should  have  the  gratification  of  being 
able  to  say,  "  I  too  have  contributed  a  stone  to  his  monu- 
ment." 

On  the  motion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Conway,  it  was 
Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  management  be  appoint* 
ed,  consisting  of  the  following  persons: — 

The  Honourable  Sir  Ralph  Palmer,  the  Honourable  Mr. 
Graeme,  the  Honourable  Sir  R.  Comyn,  the  Honourable 
Sir  G.  Ricketts,  the  venerable  Archdeacon  Vaughan,  Lieu* 
tenant-Colonel H.  G.A.Taylor,  D.  Hill, Esq.,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Agnew,  Rt  Clive,  Esq.,  Captain  Keighly,  Rev.  R. 
A.Denton,  Captain  Sim,  P.  Cator, Esq.,  Seth  Sam,  Esq., 
W.  Scott,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stewart,  the  Rev.  W. 
Roy,  the  Rev.  R4  W.  Moorsom,  J.  Gwatkin,  Esq. ;  and  that 


263 


the  Rev.  W.  Roy  and  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Moarsom  be  re* 
quested  to  officiate  as  Secretaries,  and  Mr.  Gwatkin  as 
Treasurer. 

Mr.  Hill,  in  seconding  this  resolution,  spoke  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"  I  beg  leave  to  second  the  motion.  My  own  name  is 
included  in  the  list  which  has  been  read,  and  I  shall  derive 
a  sincere,  though  melancholy  gratification,  from  testifying, 
by  any  means  in  my  power,  the  veneration  and  affection 
which  I  entertained  for  the  late  Bishop.  I  shall  make  it 
a  matter  of  conscience  to  acquit  myself  of  any  trust  which 
may  be  confided  to  me  for  the  purpose  of  doing  honour  to 
his  memory ;  and  I  take  the  liberty  of  proposing  that  the 
name  of  Colonel  Conway  be  added  to  the  list  of  the  comv 
mittee." 

On  motion  of  Sir  Ralph  Palmer,  it  wa^ 
Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  presented 
to  Sir  Thomas  Munro,  for  his  kindness  in  acceding  to 
the  request  made  to  him,  that  he  should  preside  on  the 
present  occasion,  when  the  community  were  anxious  that 
their  sentiments  should  be  embodied  in  the  manner  most 
honourable  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Bishop. 

The  Rev.  W.  Roy  rose  and  spoke  as  follows : — 
"  The  duty  of  seconding  the  resolution  which  has  just 
been  read  to  you,  Gentlemen,  devolves  on  me  ;  and  although 
it  is  a  resolution  which  you  are  doubtless  prepared  to  pass 
by  acclamation,  were  such  an  expression  suitable  at  such  a 
season — a  resolution  embracing  our  united  sentiments  of 
cordial  acknowledgment — yet  I  cannot  refrain  from  adding 


264 


a  few  words  of  address  to  the  distinguished  personage  who 
has  condescended  to  preside  at  our  meeting. 

"  As  a  man,  I  do  but  faintly  express  the  feelings  of  this 
numerous,  this  respectable  assembly,  when  I  assure  the 
honourable  gentleman,  that  the  kindness  which  he  ha,s 
evinced  in  taking  the  chair  on  this  mournful  occasion,  has 
poured  the  balm  of  consolation  into  our  afflicted  spirits; 
but,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  (using  the  term  in  its  most 
extensive  meaning,)  I  may  be  permitted  to  add,  in  the 
name  of  my  "brethren  and  myself,  that  long  as  we  shall 
have  reason  to  deplore  the  loss  which  the  cause  of  divine 
truth  and  humanity  has  sustained,  so  long  shall  we  remem- 
ber, with  feelings  of  respect  and  gratitude,  the  honour  which 
the  head  of  the  government  has  this  day  shown  to  the 
memory  of  him  who  was  the  zealous  friend,  the  affectionate 
brother,  of  each  and  every  the  humblest  labourer  in  the 
same  vineyard  as  himself — our  revered,  our  beloved  Bi- 
shop. 


Speech  of  the  Honourable  Sir  Charles  Grey,  at  a  similar 
meeting  held  in  Calcutta. 

Gentlemen, 

Before  I  proceed  to  any  thing  else,  I  am  reluctantly 
compelled  to  correct  a  seeming  mistake  as  to  the  object  of 
this  meeting.  A  notice  has  appeared  this  morning,  pro- 
fessedly by  authority,  which,  though  probably  well  meant, 
has  in  it  something  too  much  of  the  character  of  solicitation. 
I  know  not  on  what  authority  it  speaks,  but  the  friends  of 
the  late  Bishop  are  anxious  only  that  expression  shjould  be 


265 


given  to  the  feeling  with  which  the  community  regarded 
him.  Subscriptions  for  his  monument,  if  they  are  the 
spontaneous  indications  of  respect  and  sorrow,  will  be 
valuable  testimonies,  but  not  otherwise :  and  I  trust  that 
neither  solicitation  nor  influence  will  be  employed  to  swel? 
their  amount. 

Leaving  this  matter,  it  is  with  real  agitation  and  em- 
barrassment that  I  find  it  my  duty  to  mark  Out  the  grounds 
on  which  this  meeting  appears  to  me  to  have  been  called 
for.  Assuredly  it  is  not  that  there  is  any  difficulty  in 
finding  those  grounds,  nor  that  I  have  any  apprehension 
that  you  will  not  attend  to  a  statement  of  them  with  willing- 
ness and  indulgence:  but  this  is  a  very  public  occasion, 
and  my  feelings  are  not  entirely  of  a  public  nature.  Deep 
as  my  sense  is  of  the  loss  which  the  community  has  sustained, 
yet,  do  what  I  will,  the  sensation  which  I  find  uppermost  in 
my  heart  is  my  own  private  sorrow  for  one  who  was  my 
friend  in  early  life.  It  is  just  four-and-twenty  years,  this 
month,  since  I  first  became  acquainted  with  him  at  the 
university,  of  which  he  was,  beyond  all  question  or  compari- 
son, the  most  distinguished  student  of  his  time.  The  name 
of  Reginald  Heber  was  in  every  mouth;  his  society  was 
courted  by  young  and  old;  he  lived  in  an  atmosphere  of 
favour,  admiration,  and  regard,  from  which  I  have  never 
known  any  one  but  himself  who  would  not  have  derived, 
and  for  life,  an  unsalutary  influence.  Towards  the  close  of 
his  academical  career,  he  crowned  his  previous  honours  by 
the  production  of  his  "  Palestine;"  of  which  single  work* 
the  fancy,  the  elegance,  and  the  grace  have  secured  him  a 
place  in  the  list  of  those  who  bear  the  proud  title  of  English 
Poets.  This,  according  to  usage,  was  recited  in  public, 
and  when  that  scene  of  his  early  triumph  comes  ujjon  my 

Z2 


266 


memory,  that  elevated  rostrum  from  which  he  looked  upon 
friendly  and  admiring  faces,  that  decorated  theatre,  those 
grave  forms  of  ecclesiastical  dignitaries  mingling  with  a 
resplendent  throng  of  rank  and  beauty,  those  antique  man- 
sions of  learning,  those  venerable  groves,  refreshing  streams, 
and  shaded  walks — the  vision  is  broken  by  another,  in 
which  the  youthful  and  presiding  genius  of  the  former  scene 
is  lying  in  his  distant  grave,  amongst  the  sands  of  Southern 
India ; — believe  me,  the  contrast  is  striking,  and  the  recol- 
lection most  painful. 

But  you  are  not  here  to  listen  to  details  of  private  life. 
If  I  touch  upon  one  other  point,  it  will  be  for  the  purpose 
only  of  illustrating  a  feature  of  his  character.  He  passed 
some  time  in  foreign  travel  before  he  entered  on  the  duties 
of  his  profession.  The  whole  continent  had  not  yet  been 
re-opened  to  Englishmen  by  the  swords  of  the  noble  lord 
who  is  near  me,  and  his  companions  in  arms ;  but  in  the 
eastern  part  of  it  the  Bishop  found  a  field,  the  more  in- 
teresting, on  account  of  its  having  been  seldom  trodden  by 
our  countrymen.  He  kept  a  valuable  journal  of  his  ob- 
servations ;  and,  when  you  consider  his  youth,  the  applause 
he  had  already  received,  and  how  tempting,  in  the  morning 
of  life,  are  the  gratifications  of  literary  success,  you  will 
consider  it  as  a  mark  of  the  retiring  and  ingenuous  modesty 
of  his  character,  that  he  preferred  to  let  the  substance  of 
his  work  appear  in  the  humble  form  of  notes  to  the  volumes 
of  another.  This  has  been  before  noticed.  There  is  an- 
other circumstance  which  I  can  add,  and  which  is  not  so 
generally  known  :  This  journey,  and  the  aspect  of  those 
vast  regions,  stimulating  a  mind  which  was  stored  with 
classical  learning,  had  suggested  to  him  a  plan  of  collecting, 
arranging,  and  illustrating  all  of  ancient  and  of  modera 


267 


literature  which  could  unfold  the  history  and  throw  light 
on  the  present  state  of  Scythia — that  region  of  mystery 
and  fable — that  source  whence,  eleven  times  in  the  history 
of  man,  the  living  clouds  of  war  have  been  breathed  over 
all  the  nations  of  the  South.    I  can  hardly  conceive  any 
work  for  which  the  talents  of  the  author  were  better  adapted ; 
hardly  any  which  could  have  given  the  world  more  of  de- 
light, himself  more  of  glory.    1  know  the  interest  which  he 
look  in  it ;  but  he  had  now  entered  into  the  service  of  the 
Church,  and,  finding  that  it  interfered  with  his  graver  du- 
ties, he  turned  from  his  fascinating  pursuit,  and  condemned 
to  temporary  oblivion  a  work  which,  I  trust,  may  yet  be 
given  to  the  public.    I  mention  this,  chiefly  for  the  purpose 
of  showing  how  steady  was  the  purpose,  how  serious  the 
views  with  which  he  entered  on  his  calling.    I  am  aware 
that  there  were  inducements  to  it  which  some  minds  will 
be  disposed  to  regard  as  the  only  probable  ones  ;  but  I  look 
upon  it  myself  to  have  been  with  him  a  sacrifice  of  no  com- 
mon sort.    His  early  celebrity  had  given  him  incalculable 
advantages,  and  every  path  of  literature  was  open  to  him ; 
every  road  to  the  temple  of  fame,  every  honour  which  his 
country  could  afford,  was  in  clear  prospect  before  him, 
when  he  turned  to  the  humble  duties  of  a  country  church, 
and  buried  in  his  heart  those  talents  which  would  have 
ministered  so  largely  to  worldly  vanity,  that  they  might 
spring  up  in  a  more  precious  harvest.    He  passed  many 
years  in  this  situation,  in  the  enjoyment  of  as  much  happi- 
ness as  the  condition  of  humanity  is  perhaps  capable  of — 
happy  in  the  choice  of  his  companion,  the  love  of  his 
friends,  the  fond  admiration  of  his  family — happy  in  the 
discharge  of  his  quiet  duties  and  the  tranquillity  of  a  satis- 
fied conscience.    It  was  not;  however,  from  this  station 


266 


that  he  was  called  to  India  :  by  the  voice,  i  am  proud  to 
say  it,  of  a  part  of  that  profession  to  which  I  have  the 
honour  to  belong,  he  had  been  invited  to  an  office  which 
few  have  held  for  any  length  of  time  without  further  ad- 
vancement. His  friends  thought  it  at  that  time  no  pre- 
sumption to  hope,  that  ere  long  he  might  wear  the  mitre  at 
home :  but  it  would  not  have  been  like  himself  to  chaffer 
for  preferment :  he  freely  and  willingly  accepted  a  call 
which  led  him  to  more  important,  though  more  dangerous 
— alas  !  I  may  now  say,  to  fatal  labours. 

What  he  was  in  India  why  should  I  describe  1  You  saw 
him :  you  bear  testimony.  He  has  already  received  in  a 
sister  Presidency  the  encomiums  of  those  from  whom  praise 
is  most  valuable ;  especially  of  one  whose  own  spotless  in- 
tegrity, and  a  sincerity  far  above  suspicion,  make  every  word 
of  commendation  which  is  drawn  from  him  of  tenfold  value. 
I  have  reason  to  believe  that,  short  as  their  acquaintance 
had  been,  there  are  few  from  whom  the  voice  of  praise 
would  have  sounded  more  gratefully  to  him  who  was  the 
subject  of  it.  "Would  that  he  might  have  lived  to  hear  it ! 
What  sentiments  were  entertained  of  him  in  this  metro- 
polis of  India  your  presence  testifies :  and  I  feel  myself 
authorized  to  say,  that  if  the  noble  person  who  holds  the 
highest  station  in  this  country  had  been  unfettered  by 
usage,  if  he  had  consulted  only  his  own  inclinations  and  his 
regard  for  the  Bishop,  he  would  have  been  the  foremost 
upon  this  occasion  to  manifest  his  participation  in  the  feel- 
ings which  are  common  to  us  all.  When  a  stamp  has  been 
thus  given  to  his  character,  it  may  seem  only  to  be  disturb- 
ing the  impression,  to  renew,  in  any  manner,  your  view  of 
it ;  yet,  if  you  will  grant  me  your  patience  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, I  shall  have  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  pointing  oirt 


269 


some  features  of  it  which  appear  to  me  to  have  been  the 
most  remarkable. 

The  first  which  I  would  notice,  was  that  cheerfulness  and 
alacrity  of  spirit,  which,  though  it  may  seem  to  be  a  common 
quality,  is,  in  some  circumstances,  of  rare  value.  To  this 
large  assemblage  I  fear  I  might  appeal  in  vain,  if  I  were  to 
ask  that  he  should  step  forward  who  had  never  known  his 
spirit  sink  when  he  thought  of  his  native  home,  and  felt 
that  a  portion  of  his  heart  was  in  a  distant  land  ;  who  had 
never  been  irritated  by  the  annoyance,  or  embittered  by 
the  disappointment  of  India.  I  feel  shame  to  say  that  I  am 
not  the  man  who  could  answer  the  appeal.  The  Bishop 
was  the  only  one  whom  I  have  ever  known  who  was  entirely 
master  of  these  feelings.  Disappointments  and  annoyance 
came  to  him  as  they  come  to  all,  but  he  met  and  overcame 
them  with  a  smile ;  and,  when  he  has  known  a  different 
effect  produced  on  others,  it  was  his  usual  wish  that  "  they 
were  but  as  happy  as  himself."  Connected  with  this  ala- 
crity of  spirit,  and  in  some  degree  springing  out  of  it,  was 
his  activity.  I  apprehend  that  few  persons,  civil  or  military, 
have  undergone  as  much  labour,  traversed  as  much  country, 
seen  and  regulated  so  much  as  he  had  done,  in  the  small 
portion  of  time  which  had  elapsed  since  he  entered  on  his 
office  ;  and,  if  death  had  not  broken  his  career,  his  friends 
know  that  he  contemplated  no  relaxation  of  exertions.  But 
this  was  not  a  mere  restless  activity,  or  the  result  of  tem- 
perament. It  was  united  with  a  fervent  zeal,  not  fiery  nor 
^  ostentatious,  but  steady  and  composed,  which  none  could 
appreciate  but  those  who  intimately  knew  him.  I  was 
struck  myself,  upon  the  renewal  of  our  acquaintance,  by 
nothing  so  much  as  by  observing  that,  though  he  talked 
with  animation  on  all  subjects,  there  was  nothing  on  which 


270 


his  intellect  was  bent,  no  prospect  on  which  his  imagination 
dwelt,  no  thought  which  occupied  habitually  his  vacant 
moments,  but  the  furtherance  of  the  great  design,  of  which 
he  had  been  made  the  principal  instrument  in  this  country. 
Of  the  same  unobtrusive  character  was  the  piety  which  filled 
his  heart.  It  is  seldom  that  of  so  much  there  is  so  little 
ostentation.  All  here  knew  his  good-natured  and  unpre- 
tending manner  :  but  I  have  seen  unequivocal  testimonies, 
both  before  and  since  his  death,  that  under  that  cheerful 
and  gay  aspect  there  were  feelings  of  serious  and  unremit- 
ting devotion,  of  perfect  resignation,  of  tender  kindness  for 
all  mankind,  which  would  have  done  honour  to  a  saint. 
When  to  these  qualities  you  add  his  desire  to  conciliate, 
which  had  every  where  won  all  hearts ;  his  amiable  de- 
meanour, which  invited  friendships  that  were  confirmed  by 
an  innocence  and  purity  of  manners  which  bore  the  most 
scrutinizing  examination,  you  will  readily  admit  that  there 
was  in  him  a  rare  assemblage  of  all  that  most  deserves 
esteem  and  admiration. 

But  I  will  not  leave  the  matter  upon  these  grounds. 
What  we  do  this  day,  we  do  in  the  face  of  the  world ;  and 
I  am  loth  to  leave  it  open  even  to  the  malignant  heart  to 
suppose  that  we  have  met  here  on  a  solemn,  but  hollow 
pretence  ;  that  we  use  idle  or  exaggerated  words,  or  would 
stoop  to  flattery,  even  of  the  dead.  The  principal  ground 
of  all  on  which  I  hold  the  death  of  the  Bishop  to  have  been 
a  public  loss,  was  the  happy  fitness  and  adaptation  of  his 
character  for  the  situation  and  circumstances  in  which  he 
was  placed.  There  is  no  man,  whether  he  be  of  the  laity 
or  a  churchman,  to  whom  I  will  yield  in  earnestness  of 
desire  to  see  Christianity  propagated  and  predominant 
throughout  the  world ;  but  it  would  be  sinful,  if  it  were 


271 


possible,  to  banish  from  our  recollection  the  truths  which 
the  experience  of  former  ages  has  left  for  the  guidance  of 
the  present. 

It  is  an  awful,  but  an  unquestionable  fact,  that  a  fuller 
knowledge,  a  more  perfect  revelation  of  tbe  will  of  God, 
has  never  been  communicated  rapidly  to  large  masses  of 
mankind,  without  their  being  thrown  into  confusion.  To 
some  it  has  seemed  that  religion  is  so  important  an  element 
of  moral  and  social  order,  that  no  alteration  can  be  made  of 
its  quality  and  proportion,  without  the  whole  mass  dissolving, 
fermenting,  and  assuming  new  forms ;  that,  by  some  mys- 
terious condition  of  the  lot  of  humanity,  all  mighty  blessings 
are  attended  by  some  great  evil ;  that  every  step  to  heaven 
is  still  to  be  won  by  fresh  sacrifices  and  atonements.  There 
is  another,  and  I  trust  a  better  mode  of  reasoning  on  these 
symptoms  of  interpreting  these  terrible  signs.  I  will  not 
readily  believe  that  religion  has  been  one  of  the  causes  of 
disorder ;  but  rather  that  the  vices  of  men  having  prepared 
the  crisis,  and  called  for  the  revulsion  and  re-action  of  the 
preservative  principles  of  society,  religion  has  then  mani- 
fested herself  in  a  more  visible  and  tangible  form,  and 
come  as  a  ministering  angel,  only  to  enable  those  who  were 
struggling  fop  the  right,  to  persevere  and  to  prevail. 

The  appalling  fact,  however,  remains  not  the  less  indis- 
putable, that  it  is  in  scenes  of  extensive  disorder,  amidst 
mortal  strife  and  terrible  misery,  that  she  has  achieved  her 
greatest  triumphs,  displayed  her  strongest  powers,  and 
made  her  most  rapid  advances.  When  Christianity  first 
spread  itself  over  the  face  of  the  Roman  empire,  all  the 
powers  of  darkness  seemed  to  be  roused  to  an  encounter: 
the  storm  blew  from  every  point  of  the  compass ;  unheard- 
of  races  of  men,  and  monsters  of  anarchy  and  misrule,, 


272 


more  like  the  fantastic  shapes  of  a  dream  than  the  realities 
of  life,  appeared  amongst  the  gloom  ;  and  that  period  en- 
sued which  has  been  perhaps  rightly  considered  as  the  most 
calamitous  in  the  whole  history  of  man.  When  that  new 
world  was  discovered,  which  now  presents  such  fair  and 
animating  prospects,  religion  was  imparted  to  the  southern 
portion  of  it  by  carnage  and  by  torture — I  say  that  in 
South- America  the  ground  was  cleared  by  the  torch  and 
dug  by  the  sword,  and  the  first  shoots  of  Christianity  were 
moistened  with  the  blood  of  unoffending  millions.  Again, 
when  in  Europe  the  Church  cast  its  old  slough,  and  re- 
appeared in  somewhat  of  its  pristine  simplicity,  all  Europe 
was  convulsed  by  civil  war  for  a  century  and  a  half.  Wit- 
ness in  France  those  battles,  and  massacres,  and  assassina- 
tions, of  the  Huguenots  and  Catholics ;  in  Germany,  that 
closing  scene  of  thirty  years'  confusion,  in  which  the  gro- 
tesque and  barbaric  forms  of  Wallenstein  and  Tilly  are 
seen  struggling  with  the  indomitable  spirit  of  Mansfield, 
and  the  majestic  genius  of  Gustavus  Adolphus.  Witness  in 
England  the  downfal  of  its  ancient  throne,  and  the  eclipse 
of  royalty.  Let  me  not  be  misunderstood  on  points  such 
as  these.  There  is  no  one  who  has  rightly  considered  these 
events,  who  will  not,  even  while  he  mourns  over  them, 
admit  that  it  is  now  better  the  changes  took  place,  even 
with  their  terrible  accompaniments,  than  that  they  should 
not  have  taken  place  at  all.  But,  whilst  I  avow  this,  I 
hope  it  is  not  presumptuous  te  breathe  a  fervent  prayer 
that  India  may  receive  the  blessing  without  the  attendant 
misery  ;  not  faint-heartedness,  that  I  tremble  at  the  possi- 
bility of  all  Sonthem  Asia  being  made  a  theatre  of  con- 
fusion ;  not  lukewarmness,  that,  rather  than  see  religion 
advance  upon  the  rapid  wings  of  strife,  I  would  prefer  to 


273 


wait  for  her  more  gradual  approach,  preceded  by  commerce 
and  the  arts,  with  peace  and  knowledge  for  her  handmaids, 
and  with  all  the  brightest  forms  of  which  human  felicity  is 
susceptible  crowding  in  her  train.  I  confidently  trust  that 
there  shall  one  day  be  erected  in  Asia  a  Church,  of  which 
the  corners  shall  be  the  corners  of  the  land,  and  its  founda- 
tion the  Rock  of  Ages ;  but  when  remote  posterity  have  to 
examine  its  structure,  and  to  trace  the  progress  of  its  for- 
mation, I  wish  they  may  not  have  to  record  that  it  was  put 
together  amidst  discord,  and  noise,  and  bloodshed,  and  con- 
fusion of  tongues ;  but  that  it  rose  in  quietness  and  beauty, 
like  that  new  temple  where  "  no  hammer,  or  axe,  nor  any 
tool  of  iron,  was  heard  whilst  it  was  in  building ;"  or,  in 
the  words  of  the  Bishop  himself — 

"  No  hammer  fell,  no  ponderous  axes  rung ; 
Like  some  tall  palm  the  mystic  fabric  sprung!" 

That  such  may  be  the  event,  many  hands,  many  spirits 
like  his,  must  be  engaged  in  the  work  :  and,  because  of  my 
conviction  that  they  are  rarely  to  be  found,  I  feel  myself 
justified  in  saying  that  his  death  is  a  loss,  not  only  to  his 
friends,  by  whom  he  was  loved,— and  to  his  family,  of  whom 
he  was  the  idol,— but  to  England,  to  India,  and  to  the  world, 


THE  END. 


A  a 


* 


Date  Due 

